The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-21
Mapoleon Crosaing thu hlns.

Dnvids reputation as ~ h's'crcal painter WIS
already established vL.g Bcnaparta returned
from Italy. covered with glory Shortly after his
arrival in Paris, he was elected a member of the
National institute, and expressed his desire to be.
conc acquainted wit4 Ii, talented colleague
They meta dinner at he hosse Of Legarde, sec.
!etNy to the Directory, aud were soon engaged
IN IN animated conversation II wish 10 paint
yoh, Citizen General, said the artist, Sword in
hand on field Of battle NO" replied Bona
par'e; battles are no longer gained sword in
hahu. would rather be represented sitting
calmly on fiery horse" This IDEA was not lost,
,housh the portrait was not at that tine underta-
Ken. Time passed on, and Bona.
partc became First Consul OF tue Republic. Ono
,uoroihg he invited David to breakfast with him !,
out nothing further was done on the subject. tho
u was frequently alluded 10 during the rcpast-
"A briei period, and the Artist and tho Consul
were once more together: the latter incurred Of
the former when B,e portrait would be comple,ed
-" henever You choose 10 III to me" 40 j, to
you! replied Napoleon. "Do YOU suppose the
great men ot antiquity, whose likenesses have
been handed down to us, ever sat TO a painter I"
This Is quite another matter" was the reply
Il wish to paint You for your own age-for the
men VINO nave seen aud known YOU and who will
expect to Ind you like Like r. reionei Napo.
leon smiling; surely L is not the colour of the
SKIN or The exact inruI OF the features, which con.
stitntc llkeno's' IL is the character of the
physognomy--tho expression Of the soul--,hr
tout ensemble Of the indiv nal, which ought to be
rendered; and that is ALL" "C,izcn Consul. YOU
are lreachlng me the art Of painting" replied Da.
rid. Il will take Your portrait without your sit.
ting to me- As he left Napoieons cabinet, the
consuIs brother LuCen. observed TO the artist
that Bonapartc only liked national subjects. and
had no Objection To be talked Of by the public
ne is IN The right answered David; 'iu all the
SUBJECTS Illustrative OF our national glory, he i.
largely concerned Do not fear; my painting
snail be tallkedabuut." The artist kept lis worl,
and most worthl!y and admirably accomplished
Tie desired portrait. Napoleon is Represented as.
cenaing Mount st Bernard calmly sitting on a
hooie merry charger the ample cloak which he
wears Is noatng lnithe wind, and he is in the act
OF issuing his orders for conducting the memora.
BILE passage of the Alps The names Of Hmm.
bal and OF Charlcmage are in the pic,ure cr, Won,
upon The rocks in the foreground whilst rroups
OF soldiers and trains of artillery are seen in the
distance. when Napoleon saw the p,intiny he
was IN eestasies, and could scarcely bes,ow suffi
Gent commentator upon the artist for his admir-.
aoie ana wei conducted production As soon as
"e oec"nio emperor he appointed David his chief
painter, and commanded him 10 prepare six large
paintings for the palace of the Louvre. OF these
the subject OF the principle one was the corona.
ton, which il snid Ia have been the lnrves. nic
ture IN existence aud to have occupied no les.
than thiee years in its completion. David prog.
ressed IN tho Emperor's favour, and in short
time received the brevet of Commander Of the
Legion Of Honour, with the title of Baron Of the
Empire, and took the anna appointed to him BY
Napoleon, a pale Of sable on n shield of cold
WIN the arm Of Horace holding the three swords
uesuned Tor his sons. Amidst all this glory
laden win honorsby Napoleon his protector and
ms friend; The object oi unbounded admiration
20 Tvs eouh'ry men--Dasid fell beneath the same
stroke which laid has imperial master low. IT,
oaae 90 unwilling adieu 10 bis country, and went
to end bis days upon foreign soil. A refnoso
A. brussels he eoGld discern ION his place Of sx
ale the new limits imposed upon his country. and
by happy Illusion Of imagination .till .nnno.od
himself the iuhabitant Of that BELLE Frapro 70
whose glory he bad contributed.