Original artwork description:

NAPOLEON AND JOSÉPHINE
diptych 2020
complete dimension of the diptych with a hanging distance of 20 cm/ 7.9 in between the paintings:
150 (h) x 260 (w) x 2 cm / 59.1 (h) x 102.4 (w) x 0,78 in
dimension of each painting:
150 (h) x 120 (w) x 2 cm / 59.1 (h) x 47.2 (w) x 0.78 in
acrylic and oil on canvas

LARGE COLORFUL STATEMENT PIECE
LARGE-SCALED DIPTYCH

The Emperor and Empress. Love is omnipresent. The power of love overcomes all obstacles. This is also the case with Napoleon and Joséphine (1763 - 1814), two lovers who could hardly be more different, born into a time of great upheaval, into feudal Europe between war and peace, between revolution, noble splendor and social poverty. When they get to know each other, the Corsican Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821) is still an insignificant young officer. The six years older, already widowed Joséphine (Napoleon was the first to give her this first name, which she then used herself) was already at this time as Marquise de Beauharnais the center of Paris society in the post-revolutionary epoch of the Directoire. Napoleon was passionate about her, and through her contacts and social position she helped him to rise to high political and military ranks. The two married in 1796, and in 1804, despite her dubious reputation, Napoleon crowned her empress in the Church of Notre-Dame in Paris. While Napoleon continued to rise to the position of conqueror and dictator, Joséphine became the role model of the Empire, was the much sought-after propagandist of French fashion, ambassador of the elegant way of life, figurehead of the flourishing luxury industry. Empress Joséphine was a great lover of all art. Her great interest in horticulture is well-known, but she also liked all things artistic. She surrounded herself with creative people whose work ranged from paintings and sculpture to furniture and the architecture all around her. After the collapse of the Empire and Napoleon's forced abdication, she asked Emperor Alexander I of Russia in the gardens of Malmaison to join Napoleon in exile. It was probably during this walk that she caught a severe cold from which she died painfully on May 29, 1814. Napoleon learned of her death while in exile on Elba, and stayed locked in his room for two days, refusing to see anyone. His last words on his death bed were: "France, the Army, the Head of the Army, Joséphine." But who were they really, how did they love? The winners alone make the story. And Napoleon himself was a master of propaganda. So the truth remains hidden forever. What is certain, however, is that love and passion overcome all obstacles.

This colorful diptych combines the following works and should be “read” from left to right:

left part of the diptych:
THE LAST CALM DAY BEFORE THE STORM (THE EMPEROR)
2020. acrylic and oil on canvas
120 (w) x 150 (h) x 2 cm
47.2 (w) x 59.1 (h) x 0.78 in

My beloved Joséphine, now and here, the sun is smiling on our faces, and it almost shines for eternity. But there is no rest, not for us. There is only the silence before the storm, the last bright rays in a cloud-shrouded firmament. Whether we say it or refuse it, as in myself, chaos is already looming on the horizon. What was what we share now, it will never be the same again.

* * * *

right part of the diptych:
IF I COULD LOOK BEYOND THE HORIZON (THE EMPRESS)
2020. acrylic and oil on canvas
120 (w) x 150 (h) x 2 cm
47.2 (w) x 59.1 (h) x 0.78 in

My beloved Bonaparte, I live as I love. Does it matter in the here and now what may be beyond the horizon? What they will say and write about me will only be a footnote in world history, an annex to your biography, and it will not be the truth, but only a reflection of their own virtues and vices. The future belongs to the emperor, this moment with him is mine alone.

* * * *

"I awake full of you. Your image and the memory of last night’s intoxicating pleasures has left no rest to my senses."
~ Napoleon Bonaparte (December 1795, in one of his numerous letters to Joséphine; only the love letters from Napoleon to Joséphine have survived, which she kept for the rest of her life. It is still unclear whether Josephine never wrote back or whether her letters have disappeared.)

"France, the Army, the Head of the Army, Joséphine." ("France, l'armée, tête d'armée, Joséphine").
~ Last words of Napoleon on his death bed (St. Helena, May 5, 1821)

* * * *

This colorful, large-sized, and very expressive diptych offers an aesthetic impression on your wall AND as my authentic and personal artwork an artistic subsurface message. Both paintings are also for sale as solitaires here. This diptych offers a price advantage compared to the summed up single prices. For more photos and additional information on the works, please visit the presentation pages of the single paintings here.

I use exclusively oil and acrylic colors, canvas and wooden frames in a professional museum quality. Both paintings of the diptych bear my signature on the front and are signed, entitled and dated on the backside. Deliberately the sides are not a part of the paintings and show the black painted canvas with a few sprinkles of color, which emphasizes the intuitiveness of the painterly process of creation. The diptych is ready to hang (on the backside of both paintings: high-quality iron plates with metal inserts and nylon rope for gallery use), unframed and doesn’t need a frame or any additional surface treatment. The two paintings are not connected to each other. The artwork will be safely shipped in a custom wooden crate. It will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a cover letter.

Complete dimension of the diptych with a hanging distance of 20 cm/ 7.9 in between the paintings:
150 (h) x 260 (w) x 2 cm / 59.1 (h) x 102.4 (w) x 0,78 in
dimension of each painting:
150 (h) x 120 (w) x 2 cm / 59.1 (h) x 47.2 (w) x 0.78 in

Please note: In context pictures are not necessarily to scale and are for illustrative purposes only. If you have any questions about this artwork or any other piece, feel free to contact me and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in my work.

Warm wishes,
Christian

Materials used:

acrylic and oil on canvas

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