Louis Simon BOIZOT (1743-1809) Emperor Napoleon I as a Roman emperor Handsome patinated bronze bust, head in cuirass and toga. On rectangular pedestal, with amatized background in front, adorned with the imperial eagle. Base engraved "NAPOLEON Ier Scupté par Boizot 1805 = Exete par Canlers 1806". 25 x 13 cm B.E. Historical background: Charles Stanislas Canlers (1764-1812), sculptor, chaser and foundryman (mainly sand). He joined forces with Honoré-Jean Gonon (1780-1850) to produce bronzes, some of which were commissioned by Dominique Vivant Denon, Director General of the Museum central des arts, which became the Musée Napoléon, then the Musée royal du Louvre. This representation is particularly rare. Heir to the representation of the First Consul by the same Boizot (widely reproduced), it takes up the same features for the face, but with an antique Emperor's habit to recall the new dignity, also evoked on the base. This representation was superseded by Chaudet's bust, which became very famous. Bibliography: G. Hubert, G. Ledoux-Lebard, Napoléon. Portraits contemporains, bustes et statues, Paris, 1999, p. 38 ff.