Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Antoine-Jean Gros’ Propaganda Art for Napoleon

Bonaparte Visiting the Plague Victims of Jaffa depicts the noble Napoleon standing at the axis of the canvas around him are bodies some dead some dying of the Plague. Here in Jaffa the great Napoleon has come not only to colonize this part of the world but to safe these plague stricken people. Napoleon dressed in full military wear, a gold fringed bicorne or two-cornered black hat, black long jacket with gold trim and white calf-length trousers, a costume that today has become a symbol of Napoleon. Around his waist the soon to be Emperor of France wears a traditional Arabic sash. His right gloved hand holds his left glove as he uses his bare left hand to touch a man stricken with the Plague. Amongst the disorder of the plagues victims Gros echoes the Napoleons victory. Through the archways of the classic Arabic architecture we see the drepeau riolore, the national flag of France basking in the sunlight atop the hill.


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