Caricature Candlestick c. 1830 - 1850

This bronze figure of a military man, around 13 inches tall, is a candlestick, but it's also a caricature. Consider the politics of imagery during the Napoleonic era, which are relevant to the making of this work. Napoleon’s domination of Europe coincided with the development of mass media, and satire became a powerful tool for political commentary. This anonymous artist uses exaggeration and distortion to mock the pomposity of military authority. The figure's oversized hat and boots, combined with his haughty expression, create a sense of ridicule. It also critiques the institutions of art. The figure is not portrayed as heroic or virtuous, but rather as vain and self-important. To understand the full meaning of this piece, we might look to prints and other forms of popular imagery circulating at the time. Art is contingent on social and institutional context, and it is the historian's role to illuminate these connections.