The Night Review - Denis-Auguste-Marie Raffet

A haunting 1836 lithograph by Denis-Auguste-Marie Raffet depicting the spectral midnight review of Napoleon and his phantom army.

The Night Review, or La Revue nocturne, is a lithograph by Denis-Auguste-Marie Raffet, created in 1836. The work depicts a spectral scene inspired by the poem of the same name by Joseph Christian von Zedlitz. It captures the legend of Napoleon Bonaparte rising from his grave at midnight to inspect his phantom army on the Champs-Élysées.

Raffet, a master of lithography, employs a monochromatic palette to evoke a sense of the supernatural. The composition is dominated by a hazy, ethereal atmosphere, where the ghostly soldiers emerge from the mist. Napoleon is positioned in the distance, mounted on his horse, observing the spectral procession. The foreground features a mounted officer, rendered with sharp detail, contrasting with the blurred, indistinct forms of the troops behind him. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting a pale light over the scene and adding to the eerie quality of the composition.

This print reflects the Napoleonic cult that permeated French culture during the July Monarchy. Raffet was known for his ability to capture the spirit of the Napoleonic era through his military subjects. His technical skill in lithography allowed for subtle gradations of tone, which he used to create depth and movement within the frame. The work is a fine example of the Romantic fascination with the macabre and the heroic, blending historical memory with folklore. The inclusion of the text at the bottom provides context, linking the visual narrative to the literary source material. This piece remains a significant example of 19th-century French printmaking, demonstrating the artist's command over light and shadow to convey a narrative of haunting grandeur.