19th-Century French School

About the Engravings

This rare set of six small engraving portraits represents Napoleon I and prominent figures of the First French Empire, produced in Paris between 1804 and 1815 by an unknown engraver. Each portrait is numbered and features text indicating the subject's titles and honors during the Napoleonic era. The engravings capture the iconography of imperial France at the height of Napoleon's power.

The set includes portraits of Napoleon I as Emperor of the French and King of Italy, along with five key figures from his inner circle: family members elevated to royalty and distinguished military commanders who became Marshals of the Empire. These small-format engravings were likely produced for popular distribution, making imperial imagery accessible to the French public during the Empire period.

The Subjects

The six portraits represent (clockwise with original French titles):

Napoleon I - Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine

Napoleon Louis - French Prince, Royal Prince of Holland, Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves

Joachim Murat - Brother-in-law of H.M., Grand Admiral of France, King of Naples and Sicily

Eugène Napoléon - French Prince, Archchancellor of State, Viceroy of Italy, Prince of Venice

André Masséna - Duke of Rivoli, Marshal of the Empire

Michel Ney - Duke of Elchingen, Marshal of the Empire

Museum Collections

Examples from this series are held in prestigious institutions: the Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris holds three of these portraits, and the National Portrait Gallery in London holds one. This institutional presence confirms the historical significance of these Napoleonic-era engravings as documentary evidence of imperial propaganda and popular imagery during the First French Empire.

Technical Details

Artist: Unknown (19th-Century French School)
Title: Set of Six Napoleon Era Portrait Engravings
Date: 1804-1815 (First French Empire)
Medium: Engraving on paper
Condition: Good condition with some signs of age-appropriate wear
Dimensions: 9 x 7 cm / 3½ x 2¾ in (each portrait)
Frame: 31.5 x 38 cm / 11½ x 15 in, giltwood, very good condition
Origin: Paris, France
Provenance: Similar examples in Musée Carnavalet (Paris) and National Portrait Gallery (London)

A rare complete set documenting the iconography of Napoleon's First French Empire.