Bonaparte at the Pont d'Arcole

Why it's great

A young general in a dashing uniform charges forward with a flag, determined to lead his soldiers across a bridge in Italy. Gros painted the romantic, hero's portrait of Napoleon. It was the first of many pictures that made him a legend. It's an energetic image.

🏛️ Part of history

Napoleon & the Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815) — Young General Bonaparte leads the charge at Arcole in 1796, the picture that made his legend.

Where to see it

📍 Palace of VersaillesVersailles, France

Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 1,357 × 1,926 px · 2.6 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Antoine-Jean Gros

1771–1835 · born in Paris · died in Meudon

Antoine-Jean Gros was born in Paris and was a student of Jacques-Louis David. He became Napoleon's war painter, traveling with the army to capture battles and heroic scenes. His lively, dramatic art influenced the Romantic painters. He died in 1835 near Paris.