On 15 November 1796, Gros was present with the army near Arcola when Bonaparte planted the French tricolor on the bridge. Gros seized on this incident, and showed by his treatment of it (entitled "Bonaparte at the pont d'Arcole") that he had found his vocation. Bonaparte at once gave him the post of "inspecteur aux revues", which enabled him to follow the army, and in 1797 nominated him to the commission charged with selecting the spoils which should enrich the Louvre.