Jacques-Louis David
This painting is called Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David. This painting depicts Napoleon triumphant after he and his men crossed the Alps to go into Italy. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) David liked Napoleon and when painting liked to bring out Napoleon’s classical features. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia) David painted mainly the neoclassical style and this can be seen in some of the shapes in this painting. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia)In some ways this painting, is similar to the Nazi propaganda because it depicts Napoleon much more gloriously than he was at that point in time. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) At the time, Napoleon was not riding a horse, but a mule, and most of the clothes were dirty and wet. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) But, David and others of the time saw Napoleon as a dominant ruler and that is how he is depicted.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps symbolically represents Napoleon at his height in power. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He has just crossed the treacherous Alps and then goes on to defeat the Austrians, retake Italy and spread Frances power. This painting sums up the power that Napoleon had. It is shown in the powerful horse standing on its hind leg and Napoleon with one hand in the air displaying his power over all of Europe.
Napoleon was an extremely powerful dictator. Like Hitler he took over almost all of Europe and put it under French control. Though powerful, Napoleon was also very popular with his own people. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He helped France regain the power it had lost during the Revolution and created peace. David had high respect for Napoleon which is why he painted him so victorious. Napoleon prevailing symbolized France prevailing which is why Napoleon became such a popular dictator throughout France.
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