Abdicatie van Napoleon I Bonaparte, keizer der Fransen 1814

This is Alexis Joseph Depaulis' bronze medal depicting the Abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte. The medal commemorates Napoleon's first abdication in April 1814. The imagery draws on neoclassical symbolism. The reverse depicts Napoleon, guided by a female allegorical figure, possibly representing France, as he abdicates. She urges him onward while holding the torch of reason, a popular enlightenment motif. Struck in France, the medal reflects the political climate of the time. Napoleon's rise and fall were shaped by the French Revolution and its aftermath. Depaulis' medal captures a pivotal moment in that history. The medal is a portable symbol of power and politics, circulated among the elites and the wider public. By studying such objects, considering the political context and visual language of the time, we gain insight into how historical events were perceived and communicated. Historical archives, newspapers and other ephemera can reveal a deeper understanding of this historical moment.