The Rise Of Napoleon - NGV

• Skip to content

Napoleon: Revolution to Empire The National Gallery of Victoria Connect with NGV 2 June – 7 October 201210am–5pm daily, until 9pm WednesdaysNGV International, 180 St Kilda Road

• Revolution to Empire
  • Age of Enlightenment
  • The Old Regime
  • Revolution
  • A New Society
  • The Rise of Napoleon
• Art & Design
  • Art of Revolution & Empire
  • Consular & Empire Style
  • Directoire Style
  • Decorative Arts
  • Jacques-Louis David
  • Symbols
  • Propaganda
• Napoleon & Josephine
  • Who was Napoleon?
  • Who was Josephine?
  • Malmaison: Josephine's Garden
• Exploration & Discovery
  • Discovering The New World
  • La Pérouse
  • Flinders & Baudin
  • Captain Cook
  • Voyage Map
• Facts & Figures
  • Revolutionary Campaigns
  • Napoleon in Egypt
  • The Italian Campaigns
  • Who's Who?
  • Did You Know?
  • Timeline: Napoleonic Era
  • Exhibition Wall Labels

Revolution to Empire

The Rise of Napoleon

I found the crown of France in the gutter, and I picked it up. – Napoleon

The Directory 1795–1799

The Directory became the new government of France after the Convention created a new constitution establishing a bicameral parliament. This government included an upper house, called the Council of Ancients, and a lower house, called the Council of Five Hundred. The Directory sought to relax the austerity and radicalism of the Committee of Public Safety by supressing the extremes of the Jacobin and royalist forces within France. Despite desire for change and stability, the Directory was beset with economic and civil problems, giving rise to high inflation and increased spending. Support for the new government weakened as it began to alienate key sectors of French society with its obvious corruption and quest for control of conflicting factions.

The Rise of Napoleon

In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte returned from the Egyptian Campaign. Successful in suppressing uprisings against the government and victorious in his Italian campaigns, Bonaparte was known as an excellent strategist who had gained the respect of his men through bravery and courage under fire, meticulous planning and an unconventional approach to warfare. Despite defeats in Egypt, Napoleon returned to a hero’s reception. Outmanoeuvring the government and supported by his army he collaborated in a coup d’état to overthrow the Directory and establish the Consulate. By 1800 Napoleon had become the First Consul of France, and was now in a position of total power.

Antoine-Jean GROS French 1771-1835 General Bonaparte at the Bridge of Arcole on 17 November 1796 (Le général Bonaparte sur le pont d’Arcole, 17. novembre 1796) 1796 oil on canvas 130.0 x 94.0 cm Napoleonmuseum Thurgau, Schloss und Park Arenenberg, Salenstein Collection of Queen Hortense Above: This dashing portrait of a youthful Napoleon depicts him mid-battle, during one of his first campaigns against Austrian forces. Urging his army forward, he heroically crosses the bridge of Arcole. Read more

Above: This dashing portrait of a youthful Napoleon depicts him mid-battle, during one of his first campaigns against Austrian forces. Urging his army forward, he heroically crosses the bridge of Arcole.In reality, Napoleon was unable to capture the enemy guns during this episode; rather he rallied his troops by climbing ten metre-high embankments to gain victory. This painting accentuates Napoleon’s ability and glorifies his power rather than capturing the reality of war.

Close

Related Videos

On the Eve of BattleIlluminating a celebrated moment in French History, the Battle… The Battle of AusterlitzCarle Vernet paints Napoleon giving orders…

Think, Investigate, Create

VCE History – Revolutions

• Discuss factors that may have given rise to the instability of the Directory.
• Create a timeline of the key events that led to Napoleon’s rise to power.
• Analyse how these events contributed to his rapid promotions. Do you believe that Napoleon would have acquired so much power if the events of the French Revolution had not occurred? Why? Why not?

Educator's Guide

• Home
• Revolution to Empire
  • The Old Regime
  • Age of Enlightenment
  • Revolution
  • The Rise of Napoleon
  • A New Society

• Art & Design
  • Art of Revolution & Empire
  • Directoire Style
  • Consular & Empire Style
  • Symbols
  • Decorative Arts
  • Propaganda
  • Jacques-Louis David
  • A Closer Look: Jacques-Louis David
  • A Closer Look: Louis Gauffier

• Napoleon & Josephine
  • Who was Napoleon?
  • Who was Josephine?
  • Malmaison: Josephine's Garden

• Exploration and Discovery
  • Discovering The New World
  • La Pérouse
  • Flinders & Baudin
  • Captain Cook
  • Voyage Map

• Facts & Figures
  • Revolutionary Campaigns
  • Napoleon in Egypt
  • The Italian Campaigns
  • Who's Who?
  • Did You Know?
  • Timeline: Napoleonic Era
  • Exhibition Wall Labels
• Audio Guide
• Image & Video
• Educator's Guide
• What's On

© 2012 National Gallery of Victoria