The Hope of Posterity: The Emperor, Empress, and King of Rome
1811/12
Adrien Pierre Francois Godefroy (French, 1777-1865) after Adolphe Roehn (French, 1780-1867) published by Vilquin (French, active 1790-1811)
France
Napoleon’s beloved first wife, the Empress Josephine, bore him no children. Marie-Louise, whom he married in 1810 after divorcing Josephine, promptly produced an heir in early 1811. This optimistically titled print implies that the infant lying asleep in an ostentatious, eagle-themed cradle would succeed his father. The domestic composition overlooks Napoleon’s frequent military absences as well as the escalating battles against the English that would lead to his exile by 1814.
Etching with engraving in black on ivory wove paper