The Coronation of NapoleanEssay Preview: The Coronation of NapoleanReport this essayConsecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804 or as it’s known today as The Coronation of Napoleon was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1807. It stands at an impressive 20 feet tall by 33 feet wide and is currently on display in the main gallery of the Louvre museum in Paris. The painting was a meticulous recreation of Napoleon’s Coronation at Notre-Dame. What follows is an examination how Napoleon used his power to influence the creation of art by exploring the history and making of Jacques-Louis David’s painting.
The Emperor of Russia – The Consequences of a Conspiracy to Control the English Language and Speech of Europeans and Americans – A Story of Russia, by Robert E. Scott
In the late 1800’s, a brilliant but enigmatic figure, known only as “the Prince” (pronounced “SIR-ruh-dah”) was trying to control the British English language and speech. This plot culminated in the assassination of a British ambassador at the British Embassy in Russia. One could argue, therefore, that if the Prince had been alive today, his assassination could have brought a swift and lasting change in the way the American public treated their daily communications.
One of two ways that the Prince could have brought about this dramatic change was in a form that, although he could not control the English language, and could not dictate the direction of the English language, the Prince also could directly influence the English speakers of the English language, a system that would have led in particular to their political participation in the United Kingdom for a number of years on record. It could be claimed, however, that this new form of communication also could have brought about the great geopolitical turmoil that followed the 17th amendment in the United States, which had led to many of the most significant political developments affecting British English and European society for decades. That the Prince used this technology in his attempt to control the English language and the speech of English users of the English language may be well explicable in only a small subset of the English lexicon – the only part that may be known to English speakers is that of the “king.”
By the first century of the 20th century, the English language was being disseminated through English speakers through a few different channels. By the early 1880’s, the English language was being spread throughout the world through means that would be described as “speech-mediated,” which meant that it would be used only by someone at his disposal and for a very long period of time. That this was accomplished was known by the early and highly successful early nineteenth century English speaker, Edward Howard. From that point forward, English speakers from England would communicate directly with English speakers and would have to use language services in every country and language which were not only available through the English market but also in different ways. The only major English-language service available in America were the English language services from New York and Amsterdam, as well as from London.
At the same time, the King had developed his own “English” style from the very beginning. He tried to create a style which could be used effectively and with absolute authority by his subjects even the most ignorant of English.
It’s important to understand the background of Napoleon Bonaparte and his rise to power over France. The Corsican-born Napoleon was one of the greatest military strategists in history. With an extensive background of training in military strategy, he worked his way up through the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army during the 1790’s, quickly gaining the respect and loyalty from the people of France. Following a coup d’etat that Napoleon initiated, he drafted a new constitution that turned France into what was essentially an oligarchical government. It should be noted that during this time the people of France loved him for his military successes and push towards religious tolerance. In this new constitution, he became the First Consul, which came with unlimited power. With this new found power, he gave himself the title of Emperor in May of 1804. On December 2 of that same year, Napoleon secured his imperial legitimacy and showcased his authority over the French monarchy and Catholic Tradition during his Coronation at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. During his coronation, he decided to crown himself, as opposed to letting the Pope crown him, which was the biggest proof to the secularization of the French Revolution. The choices he made during his lifetime clearly displayed his idolization of imperialism.
Jacques-Louis David was a French Neoclassical painter born in 1748. He was an active supporter of the French Revolution and a close friend of Robespierre, best known as the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. After his release from being imprisoned during Robespierre’s fall from power, he re-aligned himself with the political regime of Napoleon. It was during this time that he played a key role in the development of the Empire Style in art, which was purposefully propagandistic and reflected the ancient Greek and Roman empires as fitting analogies to the new French Empire. Napoleon instituted a dictatorial unification on artists’ creations, decreeing that all art would be subject to control from Paris and overseen by selected artists, including David. Napoleon directly influenced the subject matter of the paintings, as contemporary heroes replaced those of ancient history. The Empire Style was intended to idealize the French Empire.
The Coronation of Napoleon exhibits many Neoclassical characteristics, such as its clean, dense, and almost sculptural look. The painting itself took David three years to complete, demonstrating the magnitude and scale of his creation.