The Triumph of Bonaparte 1801

Pierre-Paul Prud’hon created this drawing, “The Triumph of Bonaparte,” using black and white chalk. We see an idealized version of Napoleonic power through a style that evokes classical antiquity. It’s fascinating to consider how Prud’hon uses the visual language of the past to legitimize the present and future of French rule. The allegorical figures surrounding Bonaparte suggest virtues like peace, victory, and fame. But who gets to participate in this vision of triumph? Notice how the composition and style reflect a very particular understanding of beauty, power, and legitimacy. The whiteness of the figures underscores the racialized dimensions of this imperial vision, effectively excluding people of color from the narrative of French glory. Prud’hon's work invites us to reflect on the relationship between art, power, and identity, and asks us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being left out.