Emperor Napoléon I (1769-1821) 1805

Curator: Here we have a portrait medal of Emperor Napoléon I, created by Bertrand Andrieu, part of the numismatic collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has such a severe, almost cold feel to it, doesn’t it? Like a Roman emperor gazing into the future. Curator: Absolutely. The laurel wreath, the sharp profile...it's all very deliberately invoking classical power. It’s no accident, considering Napoleon's own complex relationship to ideals of the Roman empire. Editor: Well, that's Napoleon for you, always mythologizing himself! I can't help but think about the costs of all this self-aggrandizement, the human price of empire. Curator: Indeed. And maybe that coldness reflects that too. It's a powerful image, loaded with history, ambition, and, dare I say, a certain melancholy. Editor: It certainly gives one plenty to think about – the weight of legacy and the stories we tell ourselves about power.