The History
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled for the second time.
He was sailed to the far reaches of the South Atlantic by ship - his destination was to be the island of Saint Helena, which
was under British control at the time. Saint Helena is a small island, measuring only 122 square kilometers (47 miles), and
it lies approximately 2,000 kilometers west of Africa. His intended home on the
Island, Longwood, was not finished by the time he arrived, so he stayed with a British family in their home called The Briars.
There was much animosity between the former emporer and the British governor of the
island, Sir Hudson Lowe, and Napoleon complained of his ill treatment. He complained that he was not allowed to ride his horse
without a British escort, but apparently he refused to ride within sight of the escorts because he felt it beneath him. He
also complained that Sir Lower would not call Napoleon "Your Majesty" and only referred to him as "General Bonaparte."
At this time, Napoleon began to write his memoirs as a sort of "last campaign" -
but this time he sought to create a legacy for himself so that his name would live on in history.
The Engraving
Although the island of Saint Helena is comprised of 47 square miles, it is shown
in this engraving as a small rock that Napoleon - larger than life - towers over. Although he rests his head in his hands,
there is a stoic expression on his face, as he bravely faces his imprisonment. It is as if Napoleon's memoirs are transformed
into a picture - his "final compaign" of turning himself into a monumental legend is made visually clear in this
engraving.
The Artist: Paul Delaroche
Hippolyte Delaroche (also known as Paul Delaroche) was
The Engraver
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