Length 9.4cm
Bronze. Miniature model of Napoleon’s death mask after François Carlo Antommarchi.
The present bronze was produced around 1840, probably to mark the return of Napoleon’s mortal remains from exile on St. Helena in the South Atlantic to France for burial in Les Invalides as was Napoleon’s wish. Dr Antonmarchi was one the physicians present at Napoleon’s deathbed on 5 May 1821. Two days later in accordance with the long-standing practice of creating post-mortem casts of great leaders, Dr Francis Burton of the British 66th Regiment created the original parent mould using a mixture of wax and plaster. In the days following Dr Antommarchi obtained a cast from Burton's mould by means unknown from which he was later able to make copies in bronze and plaster by the Paris founder E. Quesnel.
Stamped ‘L. Richard Eck Durand Fils’ for the bronze founders Louis Richard (1791-1879), Georges Eck (1795-1863) and Pierre Durand (1794-1889) whose partnership existed from 1839 to 1843.