Portrait of Joachim Napoléon Murat, King of Naples and of the two Sicilies 1867

François Gérard painted this portrait of Joachim Napoléon Murat, King of Naples, in the grand style of French Neoclassicism. As social historians we can learn much from this royal portrait. It was painted during the height of Murat's power, when Napoleon had installed him as King of Naples, and it projects the image of a confident, powerful ruler. The trappings of royalty like the crown, throne, and ermine-lined cape communicate both power and legitimacy, essential elements in the unstable political world of early 19th-century Europe. But the painting also tells us about the importance of image-making as a tool for establishing political power, especially in post-revolutionary France. Portraits like this one served a crucial function in visually linking the new Napoleonic regime with older traditions of monarchy and aristocratic rule. To fully understand the painting's cultural significance, scholars consult period sources like letters, newspaper accounts, and fashion plates, to understand how people saw and understood power at the time. The portrait reminds us that art always exists within a specific social and institutional context.