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Bust SM L81. ©
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Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1809

Bronze, on wooden plinth

Museum number: L81

On display: Library-Dining Room
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

This is one of two bronze busts of Napoleon of unknown provenance displayed either side of the bronze columns on the east pier between the Dining Room and the Library. This one is on a timber base, the other (L65) on a marble base. The other bust depicts the young Napoleon as first consul while this second bust depicts a decidedly more corpulent Napoleon as Emperor. This arrangement mirrors that of the Cossia and Isabey portraits, also contrasting images of the young idealistic Consul and the much older Emperor, in the Breakfast Room.


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