It shows Napoleon as emperor, in the costume he wore for his coronation, seated on a circular-backed throne with armrests adorned with ivory balls.
In his right hand he holds the sceptre of Charlemagne and in his left the hand of justice. On his head is a golden laurel-wreath. He also wears an ermine hood under the great collar of the Légion d'honneur, a gold-embroidered satin tu...
Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne
It shows Napoleon as emperor, in the costume he wore for his coronation, seated on a circular-backed throne with armrests adorned with ivory balls.
In his right hand he holds the sceptre of Charlemagne and in his left the hand of justice. On his head is a golden laurel-wreath. He also wears an ermine hood under the great collar of the Légion d'honneur, a gold-embroidered satin tunic and an ermine-lined purple velvet cloak decorated with gold bees. The coronation sword is in its scabbard and held up by a silk scarf. The subject wears white shoes embroidered in gold and resting on a cushion.
The carpet under the throne displays an imperial eagle.
Scholar Simon Abrahams has suggested that Ingres never intended the portrait to be [an accurate portrayal of Napoleon but as "the Napoleon of painting.
