Maréchal Berthier, Prince de Neuchâtel - Jacques-Louis David

A graphite study by Jacques-Louis David, depicting Louis-Alexandre Berthier holding the Imperial Orb of Charlemagne in preparation for the 1804 coronation.

This graphite study by Jacques-Louis David depicts Louis-Alexandre Berthier, the Prince of Neuchâtel and a prominent figure in the Napoleonic era. The drawing functions as a preparatory sketch for David's monumental painting, The Coronation of Napoleon, commissioned to document the 1804 ceremony at Notre-Dame de Paris. Berthier is shown in profile, dressed in formal court attire, holding the Imperial Orb of Charlemagne, a symbol of authority that featured prominently in the coronation proceedings.

The drawing exhibits the precise, controlled line work characteristic of David's academic training. The figure is overlaid with a faint grid, a technique employed by the artist to facilitate the transfer of the composition onto a larger canvas. This grid provides a clear view into the mechanical process of Neoclassical painting, where mathematical accuracy and structural integrity were paramount. The subject's posture is rigid and formal, reflecting the gravity of the imperial court and the specific requirements of the commission.

David, the leading painter of his time in France, was tasked with capturing the grandeur of the new regime. His sketches from this period demonstrate a focus on individual characterisation within a highly orchestrated group setting. The inclusion of the orb serves to identify the specific role Berthier played during the coronation. The drawing remains a document of the artist's working method, showing how he constructed complex scenes through individual studies of the participants. The paper shows signs of age, consistent with its origin in a sketchbook used during the preparations for the coronation. This print offers a view into the technical rigour of the period, capturing the intersection of political theatre and artistic discipline.