Een godin geeft Napoleon een zwaard 1808

Teodoro Matteini created this drawing, "A Goddess Gives Napoleon a Sword," during a time when Napoleon Bonaparte was both a military leader and a symbol of revolutionary change across Europe. Here, Matteini casts Napoleon as a figure of classical heroism, receiving a sword from a goddess, likely an allegory of Victory or Liberty. This bestowing of a weapon symbolizes power, authority, and a divine right to rule, resonating with the era’s fascination with empire and destiny. The goddess and her attendants float on a cloud, in contrast to Napoleon who is standing in front of what might be the city he will conquer. This imagery places Napoleon in a lineage of great leaders, akin to Roman emperors or mythological heroes. Yet, it's impossible to ignore the tensions inherent in such representations. How do we reconcile the image of a liberator with the realities of imperial conquest? How do images of masculine power serve to both inspire and intimidate? This drawing asks us to consider the stories we tell about power, and whose voices are elevated in the process.