Elisa Bonaparte with her daughter Napoleona Baciocchi 1810

François Gérard painted Elisa Bonaparte with her daughter Napoleona Baciocchi, capturing the aesthetic and social values of the French Empire. Elisa, Napoleon’s sister, embodies the complex role of women during this period. She was a powerful figure in her own right, governing territories and influencing cultural life, yet her status was always tied to her relationship with Napoleon. Here, she is presented as both a regal figure and a nurturing mother. Note how the artist contrasts Elisa's mature, composed presence with her daughter's innocence, amplified by the symbolism of the deer. This portrait operates within the established conventions of courtly portraiture, reinforcing the Bonaparte family's power and status. However, by depicting Elisa in a domestic setting, the painting also suggests an alternative narrative of female identity. How might Elisa have felt, balancing public duty and private life, in a world where her identity was always in relation to the men around her? The painting offers us an intimate, if idealized, glimpse into her world.