Firmin Massot is a leading Geneva painters of his time. He excels in the art of portraiture, and is having great success with his first compatriots, foreigners passing through or stay in Geneva next. Among the most illustrious figures painted by Firmin Massot included Madame de Stael and her children, Recamier, Queen Hortense and the Empress Josephine.

Born in 1763 in Martinique, Marie-Joseph-Rose Taschers of Pagerie is sent to Paris at the age of 16. In 1795, the widow of Alexandre de Beauharnais, she met Bonaparte, who féminisera his middle name, and civilly married in 1796. 

In 1804 he Crown Empress at his coronation. The couple divorced in 1809, Josephine can not give an heir to the Emperor. It will retain its rank, title, and in particular the field of Malmaison, with all its collections.

The Empress had the passion for jewelry and ornaments owned several of pearls and precious stones, mostly gained on her private tape. Few have survived because her daughter, Queen Hortense, sold almost all of them.

Dimensions

6 x 1 cm

Conditioning

suede

Origin

1812, Portrait of the Empress Josephine of France

Matter of the original

Oil on canvas

Museum

Rueil-Malmaison - Malmaison castle Museum and Bois Preau

themes

Napoleon

material

colored glass beads

Artistic current

Empire

Artist

Firmin Massot (1766-1849)