Study for “The Reception of the Siamese Ambassadors at Fontainebleau” 1861 - 1864

Jean-Léon Gérôme made this pencil study on paper for his painting "The Reception of the Siamese Ambassadors at Fontainebleau." The French Third Republic was in a period of colonial expansion. France established protectorates in Southeast Asia in the 1860’s in an effort to control trade routes, access resources, and establish geopolitical dominance. The painting depicts the Siamese Ambassadors visit to France in 1861, during the reign of Napoléon III. Gérôme emphasizes the exoticism of the Siamese delegation, reinforcing a sense of French superiority. Art historians contextualize this imagery by studying France's colonial policies, diplomatic exchanges, and the broader dynamics of cultural representation. We delve into archival sources, diplomatic records, and travel literature to better understand how cultural encounters were shaped. The reception of this artwork tells us about the power of art as a reflection, and also a constructor, of social and institutional norms.