Portrait of Madame Mère

1802 · Private collection

portrait

This painting is one of the three compositional versions of the portrait which Gérard painted of Napoleon's mother, Maria-Letizia Ramolino. The large scale portrait was commissioned by Napoleon when he was First Consul. As Emperor, Napoleon bestowed on his mother the title of "Son Altesse Impériale, Madame Mère de l'Empereur" (Her Imperial Highness, Mother of the Emperor).

About the Artist

François Gérard

1770 – 1837

French painter, born in Rome, a favourite pupil of Jacques-Louis David. In the Salon of 1796 he won acclaim with his portrait of Jean-Baptiste Isabey and his Daughter (Louvre, Paris) and became the most sought after court and society portraitist of his day. He successfully negotiated the various political changes of the day and was made a Baron and a member of the Legion of Honour. In addition to portraits Gérard painted historical and mythological works. His style derived from David, but was much less taut and heroic, tending at times towards a rather mannered gracefulness.

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