French School Napoleon I Military Oil Portrait After Robert Lefèvre c.1870

French School Napoleon I Military Oil Portrait After Robert Lefèvre c.1870 An imposing 19th-century oil portrait of Napoleon I, circa 1870, after and adapted from Robert Lefèvre (1755–1830), depicting the Emperor in Imperial Guard uniform with Légion d’honneur insignia, broad red sash, ceremonial sword and historic London trade provenance. Highlights * French School * Circa 1870 * Napoleon I * After and adapted from Robert Lefèvre * Oil on canvas * Historically relined * Large oval format * Imperial Guard uniform * Légion d’honneur insignia * Ceremonial sword * Faint painted signature/inscription * Historic London labels * Later gilt frame Description A commanding French historical portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French. The unknown painter presents Napoleon directly against a restrained brown background. His dark blue military coat contrasts with a brilliant white uniform front. Gold-fringed epaulettes and buttons add ceremonial richness, while the broad red sash and prominent breast insignia emphasise Imperial rank. His hand rests upon an elaborate sword hilt. Robert Lefèvre Connection Detailed research has led to a reassessment of the portrait's artistic source. The composition is more convincingly connected with Robert Lefèvre's official Napoleonic portrait tradition than with Jacques-Louis David. Lefèvre produced numerous representations of Napoleon, including signed examples showing him in the uniform of Colonel of the Foot Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard with Légion d’honneur insignia. The present portrait appears to adapt this established imagery into a substantial three-quarter-length composition. Attribution French School. After and adapted from Robert Lefèvre (1755–1830). Circa 1870. Signature Bearing a faint and presently indecipherable painted signature and/or inscription. Provenance Thomas Kerr Antiques Ltd., London; historic trade label verso. Just Mirrors, Fulham Road, London; historic label verso. Special Auction Services; inventory label verso. Thereafter Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. *Dimensions Approximately 109 × 90 × 4 cm overall framed. Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record. Attribution and Research The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market. These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.