Napoléon I Crossing the Alps after 1800

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the triumphant air of this small medallion. Editor: This is Napoléon I Crossing the Alps, a bronze medal by Bertrand Andrieu, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. The imagery is... well, deliberately heroic. Curator: Indeed. The rearing horse, the windswept cloak—all very consciously evoke power and destiny. It's a potent image. Editor: The symbolism is layered, isn't it? The Alps themselves, a barrier overcome, a testament to Napoleon's ambition. And the very medium—bronze—lends a sense of permanence, of historical weight. Curator: Absolutely. Medals like these were not just art objects, but propaganda tools, carefully crafted to shape public perception and solidify Napoleon's image. Editor: It is a reminder that even small-scale art can carry tremendous cultural and political significance. Curator: A powerful miniature reflecting grand ambitions.