Geboorte van Napoleon Frans Karel Jozef, zoon van Napoleon I Bonaparte en Marie Louise, keizer en keizerin der Fransen

About this artwork

Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

This commemorative medal, created by French medallist Bertrand Andrieu in 1811, marks the birth of Napoleon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the only son of Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise. Measuring just 4.1 centimeters in diameter and weighing 39.46 grams, the work was produced through striking, a precise metalworking technique in which designs are impressed into metal using engraved dies. Such medals served as portable records of imperial events, blending sculpture and currency traditions. The birth of this heir, often called the King of Rome, represented a pivotal moment for the Napoleonic dynasty, intended to secure its long-term legitimacy after years of conquest and political upheaval. Andrieu’s involvement reflects the era’s flourishing of official medallic art, where artists documented state occasions with classical motifs and portraiture to convey authority and continuity. Donated to the collection by J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, this intimate object offers visitors a tangible connection to the hopes and ambitions of Napoleon’s court in its final years of power.

About the Artist

Bertrand Andrieu · 1761–1822

French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris