Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1806
Why it's great
Napoleon sits like a god on a golden throne, with the crown of laurel leaves and a scepter, in a gleaming robe. Ingres painted him in 1806, imitating old religious pictures of Jupiter and of kings. The detail of the fabric, gold and fur is extraordinary. It's a spectacular example of power portraiture.
Where to see it
📍 Louvre MuseumParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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.
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born in Montauban, in southern France, and trained under David in Paris. He spent many years in Italy and in the end died in Paris. He believed in the power of clean, elegant outlines and was a master of portraits. He was also a fine violin player, and the phrase 'Ingres's violin' came to mean a talented hobby.
