19th Century French Napoleon I Oil Portrait

French Napoleon I Oil Portrait After Robert Lefèvre c.1870

An important 19th-century French oil portrait of Napoleon I, circa 1870, after and adapted from Robert Lefèvre (1755–1830), depicting the Emperor in Imperial Guard uniform with Légion d’honneur insignia, ceremonial sword and historic London trade provenance.

Highlights

French School, circa 1870.

Napoleon I (1769–1821).

After and adapted from Robert Lefèvre.

Oil on canvas, historically relined.

Large oval three-quarter-length portrait.

Imperial Guard military uniform.

Broad red sash and prominent breast insignia.

Gold-fringed epaulettes.

Ceremonial sword.

Faint painted signature and/or inscription.

Historic London trade labels.

Approximately 109 × 90 × 4 cm framed.

Catalogue Note

A commanding historical portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte represented in formal military dress.

Detailed comparative research has led to a reassessment of the painting's previous association with Jacques-Louis David. Its strongest artistic relationship is with the official Napoleonic portrait tradition established by Robert Lefèvre.

Lefèvre produced numerous portraits of Napoleon in military and ceremonial dress. A signed 1805 portrait depicts Napoleon as Colonel of the Foot Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, wearing the cross and Grand Eagle of the Légion d’honneur within an oval presentation.

The present unknown painter appears to have adapted this established imagery into a substantial three-quarter-length composition incorporating an elaborate ceremonial sword.

The work is therefore responsibly catalogued:

After and adapted from Robert Lefèvre (1755–1830).

Signature

A faint painted signature and/or inscription survives within the background but remains presently indecipherable.

Dating

Circa 1870, within a broader working range of approximately 1860–1880.

Provenance

Thomas Kerr Antiques Ltd., London; historic label verso.

Just Mirrors, Fulham Road, London; historic label verso.

Special Auction Services; inventory label verso.

Thereafter Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Condition

Historically relined. Extensive age-related craquelure with areas of staining, minor scratches, small paint losses and historic retouching. Later gilt frame displaying age-related wear, cracking, losses and historic repairs.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

Owing to the substantial dimensions and weight of the framed portrait, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.

Delivery shipping information

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD ship worldwide, using fully insured and online tracked delivery services like DHL, DPD, Parcelforce or Fedex also the British Shop. We offer Free national Delivery to England mainland, Wales mainland & Scottish lowland mainland areas only.

We offer Free UK mainland delivery only, international shipping to USA, Canada, Europe. All other countries rest of the world please get in touch for a shipping quote.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art & Antique pieces which we sell.

We bespoke pack & wrap extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in great as described condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items which can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approximate. 2-5 working days for the United Kingdom mainland & International delivery between 5-14 working days.

Returns Policy

We offer a 14-day money-back refund policy

(excluding the cost of Postage & Packaging costs & any duties, taxes customs charges paid on buyers behalf or buy the buyer direct ).

CONTACT US:

Please feel free to call us.

We have a friendly & professional team on hand who are here to help you with any queries you may have.

Tel: 07494763382

Outside the UK:

Phone or text: 0044 7494763382

PAYMENT:

Our primary payment method is by (BACS) & International bank wire transfer, we can email you an invoice with our banking details upon request. We no longer accept any Online Card or in person card payments due to payment providers charging us and not returning the processing transaction fee even if an order is fraudulent, cancelled or returned. All Item(s) will need to be settled by bank transfer only. We will email you a proforma invoice with our bank details.

Customs Payment & Brexit

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD operates on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis which means that the International buyer is responsible for any import duties, taxes & customs clearance charges and any other customs charges which may be necessary to release an order from international customs.

Following the UK leaving the EU on 1st January 2021 (BREXIT) there have been some changes to customs & duty charges for EU customers. Tax and import duty varies from country to country so we recommend you check with your local tax office to see if any fees will be payable.

If the customer refuses to pay any duty and customs charges and the parcel is returned to sender all shipping charges will be deducted from any refund.