Story of a coronation
Coronation of Napoleon and crowning of Josephine at Notre-Dame-de-Paris, 2 December 1804, by Jacques-Louis David
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
On 2 December 1804, a grandiose and unprecedented ceremony took place in Paris... the coronation of Emperor Napoleon I.
Traditionally, French kings had been crowed in Reims cathedral, but Napoleon imposed his style by organising the event at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
This was not the only original feature of the ceremony: Pope Pious VII, sitting behind Napoleon, gave him the sacred unction and was preparing to take hold of the imperial crown when Napoleon seized it and crowned himself.
Jacques-Louis David has depicted the moment when the Emperor himself crowns his wife. Josephine de Beauharnais thus became Empress of the French.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
The ceremony lasted three hours before thousands of guests. But one member of the family was conspicuous by her absence...
Maria Letizia Ramolino, Napoleon Bonaparte’s mother, is depicted next to the ladies and officers of her house, in the centre of the main box. In fact, the Lady Mother was absent from the ceremony.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
On the second level of the gallery, Jacques-Louis David has painted himself, surrounded by his family, making a preliminary draft of his masterpiece.
The great ceremony of Napoleon’s coronation was also aimed at impressing neighbouring powers. The diplomatic corps consists of the ambassadors of Austria and the Ottoman empire, as well as the United States ambassador.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
In the foreground, we can see the Arch-Treasurer Charles-François Lebrun holding the sceptre...
...the Arch-Chancellor Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès holding the Hand of Justice...
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
...then Berthier holding the imperial globe...
...the Grand Chamberlain Talleyrand, holding the basket containing the imperial cloak.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
Behind them are cardinals Fesch and Pacca.
Then the officers Bernadotte, the Grand Equerry Caulaincourt and Eugène de Beauharnais.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
The members of the imperial family are on the other side…
Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s elder brother.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon’s younger brother and father of the future Napoleon III.
The emperor’s sisters: Caroline Murat on the left is Joachim Murat’s wife. Pauline Borghèse in the pink dress is Camille Borghèse’s wife and Napoleon’s favourite sister. Elisa Bacciochi, Félix Bacciochi’s wife, is standing with her arms crossed.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
Hortense de Beauharnais, wife of Louis Bonaparte, is holding the hand of the young Napoleon-Louis Bonaparte. Next to her is Julie Clary, wife of Joseph Bonaparte.
Among the group of Marshals of France, Joachim Murat is holding the cushion of the imperial crown.
The Coronation of Napoleon and the Coronation of Josephine at Notre Dame de Paris (1802/1822) by Jacques Louis DavidPalace of Versailles
An exceptional ceremony warranted an exceptional painting: this canvas, a copy of the painting conserved at the Louvre, is more than 6 metres by 9; David painted it himself between 1808 and 1822.
Catherine Pégard, President of the Palace of Versailles
Laurent Salomé, Director of the national museum
Thierry Gausseron, General Administrator
Géraldine Bidault, responsible for the photographic library and digitalization of collections
Ariane de Lestrange, Communication Director
Paul Chaine, Head of digital development
Gaëlle Bertho, Digital project manager
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