712 - H. KNAUTH (*1804) after STEUBEN (*1788), The Death of Napoleon Bonaparte, Lithography

H. KNAUTH (*1804) after STEUBEN (*1788), The Death of Napoleon Bonaparte, Lithography Heinrich Knauth (1804 Dresden - after 1845 ibid.) after Carl von Steuben (1788 Bauerbach (Meiningen) - 1856 Paris): The Death of Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th century, Lithography Technique: Lithography on Paper Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "gemalt von Steuben in Paris / auf Stein gez. von Knauth". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "Der Tod Napoleons (den 5ten May 1821) | in der lith. Anstalt von F.C.Vogel in Frfurt a/m.". Date: 19th century Description: "Our eyes, fixed on the head of the exalted Emperor, turned away from it only to read in the eyes of the doctor Antomarchi whether there was still hope. This is how Mr. Marchand, Napoleon Bonaparte's first valet de chambre, reports in his unpublished memoirs on the death of his emperor on 5 May 1821. After the heavy defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon, stripped of his offices, was exiled to the Atlantic island of St. Helena. He lived there for over six years without a family and with modest servants until he probably succumbed to stomach cancer in 1821. Based on Marchand, the poignant scene depicts the hour of the French Emperor's death at Longwood House. From quiet melancholy to desperate dismay, the most diverse emotions can be read among those present. Seated close to the deathbed are General Bertrand and his family, who, like Adjutant General de Montholon on the right, had followed the Emperor into exile and were among his most loyal confidants to the end. "Thus the Emperor died surrounded by some of his servants, but not by the natural objects of love which man seeks in his last moments, a mother, a wife, a son." The enclosed legend sheet provides information in large format about the people present and reproduces an excerpt from Marchand's memoirs. Keywords: Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte; Death; 5; May 1821; Valet; Hr; Marchand; Memoirs; Waterloo; Atlantic island of St; Helena; Banished; Stomach cancer; Longwood House; General Bertrand; Adjutant General de Montholon; French; Gloom; Consternation; Most loyal confidant; Servant; Love; Legend sheet; Persons; Excerpt; Marchand's memoirs., 19th century, Romanticism, Genre, St. Helena, Size: Paper: 59,6 cm x 75,6 cm (23,5 x 29,8 in), Depiction: 47,3 cm x 65,0 cm (18,6 x 25,6 in) Condition: Very good condition. Cleaned. Minor restored tears and minimally stained at margins. The explanatory sheet minimally stained and creased.