My OpenLearn Profile
Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning
Napoleonic paintings
In this free course, Napoleonic paintings, we will examine a range of Napoleonic imagery by David, Gros and a number of other artists, beginning with comparatively simple single-figure portraits and moving on to elaborate narrative compositions, such as Jaffa and Eylau. In so doing, we will have three main aims: to develop your skills of visual analysis; to examine the relationship between art and politics; and to introduce you to some of the complex issues involved in interpreting works of art.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- analyse paintings centred on the human figure in terms of how a work's form and content together produce its meaning
- explain how and why French painting came to be used and controlled by the Napoleonic regime
- discuss the problems of interpretation raised by Gros's Napoleonic paintings
- locate Napoleonic painting within the broad shift from Neoclassicism to Romanticism in French art.
First Published: 09/08/2012
Updated: 19/03/2019
You can start this course right now without signing-up. Click on any of the course content sections below to start at any point in this course.
If you want to be able to track your progress, earn a free Statement of Participation, and access all course quizzes and activities, sign-up.
Course content
Figure 1, View of the Salon File
SEO URL
Rate and Review
Create an account to get more
Track your progress
Review and track your learning through your OpenLearn Profile.
Statement of Participation
On completion of a course you will earn a Statement of Participation.
Access all course activities
Take course quizzes and access all learning.
Review the course
When you have finished a course leave a review and tell others what you think.
Take your learning further
Making the decision to study can be a big step, which is why you'll want a trusted University. The Open University has 50 years’ experience delivering flexible learning and 170,000 students are studying with us right now. Take a look at all Open University courses.
If you are new to University-level study, we offer two introductory routes to our qualifications. You could either choose to start with an Access module, or a module which allows you to count your previous learning towards an Open University qualification. Read our guide on Where to take your learning next for more information.
Not ready for formal University study? Then browse over 1000 free courses on OpenLearn and sign up to our newsletter to hear about new free courses as they are released.
Every year, thousands of students decide to study with The Open University. With over 120 qualifications, we’ve got the right course for you.
Download this course
Newsletter
Sign up for our regular newsletter to get updates about our new free courses, interactives, videos and topical content on OpenLearn.
If you are a fan of Napoleon and the Napoleonic era, this is a course for you. And even if you are not, I would recommend this course. Well thought out and put together. I emerged with a much enhanced understanding of the period, and I have been reading about Napoleon for decades. Very much recommended.