Napoleon on Horseback (Detail)
Bronze Sculpture, Figurative • Manner of Jean-Baptiste Isabey or after a model by Antoine-Denis Chaudet or Émile-Coriolan-Hippolyte Guillemin.
Style & Movement
Neoclassical Revival / Academic Realism
Medium & Technique
Bronze; cast using many-part lost-wax process or sand casting with hand-finished cold-working and chemical patination.
Creation Period
Late 19th Century to Mid-20th Century (c. 1880-1940)
Dimensions & Format
Small cabinet scale; estimated 8-15 inches in height (entire figure).
Subject Description
Rear view detail of Napoleon Bonaparte wearing his signature bicorne hat and greatcoat. The figure represents military authority and heroic leadership, a common theme in 19th-century French bronzes.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good; shows age-appropriate wear and authentic surface oxidation.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $1,200 (depending on identification of the foundry and full condition).
Auction Estimate
$300 - $800
Provenance History
Likely a grand-tour souvenir or a middle-class household decorative object from a French or European estate. No specific foundry marks are visible in this detail.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the 'Napoleonic Legend' in art, where small-scale bronzes proliferated to cement the Emperor's status as a cultural icon in post-Napoleonic Europe.
Notable Features
Features a brownish-gold patina characteristic of late 19th-century French casts; soft modeling suggests a production-level cast rather than a unique artist's proof.
Condition Issues
Verdigris (green oxidation) visible in the crevices of the hat and shoulder; rubbing on high points where the original patina has worn down to the base metal.
Conservation Recommendations
Light cleaning with a soft brush; application of a microcrystalline wax (like Renaissance Wax) to prevent further oxidation; avoid over-polishing.