Portret van Michel Ney 1838 - 1841

This is Edme Jean Ruhierre’s portrait of Michel Ney. While the date of its creation is unknown, the print captures Ney’s image and the complex political history of post-revolutionary France. Ney, a prominent figure in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, is depicted here with the quiet authority of a man who rose through the ranks. But consider the setting—a barren, snow-covered landscape which hints at the brutal winter of Napoleon’s Russian campaign, a turning point that marked the beginning of the end for the French Empire. It’s important to remember that this portrait exists within a broader context of shifting allegiances and national identity. Ney, despite his service to France, was ultimately executed for treason after the restoration of the monarchy. This image reflects the turmoil of a nation grappling with its past, present, and future, and invites us to reflect on the human cost of political upheaval.