A Printed Portrait of the Emperor Napoleon C.1900 with Interesting Hand Written Text

Platinotype print – The Emperor Napoleon

An interesting print of Napoleon which includes a handwritten account of conversations between W.G. Cumming and Napoleon during his trip to Elba.

The following text is inscribed above the label in brown ink:

“George William Cumming Lieutt R.N. died July 26, 1823. He was made Lieutenant of “the Superb” at the siege of Algiers 5 he was wounded. He died from the effects of this wound. The picture of which this is a copy of the engraving was given by G.W. Cumming to his brother the Revd Professor Cumming of Trinity College Cambridge as a really good likeness of the emperor Napoleon. W.G. Cumming was one of the officers on board the ship which took the emperor to Elba, and as he was the only one who could speak French he saw and talked constantly with Napoleon. This picture came into the possession of my aunt Mm Isabella Bacebus on the death of her father Professor Cumming, and the above history of it was given her by him. This copy was given me by Mm Bacebus July 5th 1899. Robert Holmes Edleston”.

Printed image: 11 7/16 x 8 1/8 in. (29 x 20.5 cm.)

Frame: 18 3/8 x 14 1/2 (46.8 x 36.7 cm.)

Provenance: Robert Holmes Edleston, thence by descent.

Platinotype (platinum) prints first came into commercial production in 1879–1880, following William Willis Jr.'s invention and patenting of the process: This print is a copy of an engraved portrait of Napoleon, dated 1810. The photographer’s label "Graham’s art studios" is pasted on the back of the picture.

R.H. Edleston (1868-1952) was a landowner and an antiquary of County Durham origins with significant Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire connections, living at times in Jesus Lane Cambridge and Buckden Tower. He was a somewhat exotic figure, a supporter of the Old Catholic church and rejoicing in the title of Baron de Montalbo, granted by the Republic of San Marino in gratitude for his acting as consul for the republic in Newcaste-on-Tyne. He also purchased the lordships and accompanying records of many manors, including in Cambridgeshire those of Burgh Hall in Swaffham Bulbeck, Chesterton and Wicken.

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