A renowned scholar for his study of the Empress, Chevallier discussed aspects of Josephine's life-her preferred home of Malmaison, approximately 10 miles west of Paris, and the garden, menagerie and art collection that she housed there. Malmaison was originally built around 1610 for a member of the French Parlement. Josephine bought the chateau in 1799 with borrowed money that Napoleon Bonaparte, her husband, later paid back. She then refurnished the estate and lived there for the last 15 years of her life. By showing various slides of Malmaison, Chevallier demonstrated how the chateau reflected Josephine's identity as Empress.
Important for many reasons, "The Empress Josephine" commemorates the bicentennial anniversary of the coronation of Napoleon and Josephine. Carol Solomon Kiefer, the curator of European art at the Mead, admitted that she had a personal interest in the Empress and worked for years trying to get this exhibit to the College. She also explained that the Mead plans exhibits so that they coincide with some of the semester's courses; accordingly, this fall there are classes on Napoleon and French history.
Moreover, because Josephine has recently been reappraised in a scholarly manner, she has been given more serious attention, more credit than as simply the jewel-bedecked leader of European fashion-she was the woman behind the Emperor. In many of the pieces on display in the Mead, Josephine's portrait is alongside that of Napoleon. There are even pictures of Josephine being given news of victory or a draft of the Napoleonic Code, further demonstrating her importance. She is also significant with respect to her truly romantic relationship with Napoleon. They wrote heated love letters to one another, and even after they were divorced, he continued to visit her; he continued to love her.
The Mead exhibition features approximately 80 pieces of artwork, one-third of which are on loan from the Musée de Malmaison. The rest are on loan from institutions in Europe, Canada and the United States.
"The Empress Josephine" includes a collection of color aquatints, watercolors and other illustrations depicting Malmaison and the exotic plants and animals (such as black swans) that she kept there.
Josephine was also an avid art collector, as she led the Troubadour movement by commissioning paintings in the Renaissance style to honor France's history from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. Subsequently, several paintings from her collection are on display.
Perhaps the highlights of the exhibit are the artworks that celebrate Josephine's coronation as Empress. Certainly the largest and most well-known piece is a screen reproduction of Jacque-Louis David's "Le Sacre." Interestingly, the painting was originally of Napoleon's self-coronation, but David painted Josephine's coronation instead. Next to this screen reproduction is a clever lithograph of the Emperor and Empress looking at the painting, giving a sense of multiple layers and viewers.
Although Napoleon divorced her in 1809 because she could not provide him with an heir, Josephine retained her title as Queen and Empress until her death. Another section of artwork is therefore dedicated to her memory with pictures of Hortense and Eugéne (her children from her first husband), with pictures that revere her image as both Empress and Queen of the nations Napoleon conquered.
On a more amusing but defamatory note, the Mead exhibit also contains British satire mocking Josephine. While some smear her name by fabricating a history of indecency, one piece portrays the Empress as an authoritative, almost masculine figure ordering Napoleon about, which could be taken more as a compliment in her favor today.
In addition to "The Empress Josephine" are concurrent exhibits that complement each other. The Collins Gallery at Mead features "The Age of Napoleon and Josephine: Paintings, Prints, and Drawings." At Smith College, "The French Portrait: Revolution to Restoration" presents French portraits ranging from paintings to sculptures and provides an enhanced understanding of Empress Josephine's culture.
"The Empress Josephine" will be on display at the Mead until Dec. 18.