Snuffbox with miniature of the Empress Marie-Louise, the King of Rome, and Napoléon I 1810 - 1820

This exquisite snuffbox with miniatures of Empress Marie-Louise, the King of Rome, and Napoléon I was crafted by Gabriel-Raoul Morel, likely in France during the early 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the Napoleonic era. The box, with its gilded frame and delicate miniature portraits, speaks to the opulence and self-regard of the French imperial court. The choice of a snuffbox, a personal and portable item, suggests these images weren't meant for public display, but for private contemplation or gifting within a close circle. The portraits themselves, rendered in painstaking detail, serve as idealized representations of the imperial family. To fully understand this piece, we might turn to court documents, personal letters, or even fashion plates of the time. Only then can we appreciate how this object reflects both the grand ambitions and the fragile realities of Napoleon's reign. Art like this snuffbox existed within social and institutional contexts, and its meanings are contingent on these factors.