This plaster bust was thought by Soane to be after a bust of Napoleon by the Venetian sculptor Antonio Canova. However, it is in fact based upon (or a cast of) a similar bust by Antoine-Denis Chaudet now in the Louvre in Paris. It is not known how the bust came into Soane's possession but it is shown in an engraved view of the Colonnade published in Soane’s last Description of his house (1835) and drawn c.1834.

Chaudet was a key figure in the development and spread of iconic, approved images of the Emperor Napoleon, either developing them himself, as with this bust, or through official commissions. The first known version of this bust is from 1802-03 (Museum of Tours, France) and it rapidly became the 'official' image of the Emperor and was reproduced in hundreds of copies in bronze, plaster, marble and Sevres biscuit porcelain. There are marble and bronze versions in the Louvre and many other collections.

Soane would certainly have seen the Sevres porcelain version at Malmaison on his visit in 1819 and may have seen those in the Louvre. Sadly, we cannot say whether or not his acquisition of this plaster related to either of his visits to Paris in 1814 or 1819.

We are grateful to Imperial Art of Paris for sharing their catalogue entry for a bronze version of this bust with us, 2022.