Hidden silhouette of Napoleon contemplating his tomb
ca. 1820
Medium
Lithograph
Dimensions
Image: 3 1/16 × 3 1/16 in. (7.7 × 7.7 cm) Sheet: 5 9/16 × 5 13/16 in. (14.1 × 14.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Glenn Tilley Morse Collection, Bequest of Glenn Tilley Morse, 1950
Accession Number
50.602.206
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 19 century, as Europe grapple with the legacy of Napoleon, this delicate lithograph *Hidden Silhouette of Contemplating His Tomb (ca. 182) captures a poignant moment reflection. Produced by the American firm Annin &—early pioneers in lithography—this tiny (just 3 x3 inches) invites viewers discover Napoleon's shadowy profile concealed within the architecture of his envisioned tomb. Lithography, a revolutionary technique invented around 1796, allowed for precise, affordable reproduction of images, making Napoleonic memorabilia accessible to a wide audience amid the emperor's fading empire. The artwork's theme resonates with the Romantic era's fascination with mortality and heroism., who died in exile on Saint Helena in 1821, became a mythic figure, inspiring countless prints that blended reverence with memento mori symbolism. Here, the "hidden" silhouette transforms a simple tomb motif into an interactive puzzle, engaging viewers in a visual game that underscores the emperor's enduring, almost spectral presence. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Prints collection, this piece from the Glenn Tilley Morse bequest exemplifies how printmaking democratized art and history, turning personal contemplation into shared cultural nostalgia.
About the Artist
Annin & Smith|Napoléon Bonaparte (American|French) · 1800 |1769 –1900 |1821
Boston, Massachusetts|French, Ajaccio 1769–1821 St. Helena