Oil on canvas painted by David in 1801 for Charles IV of Spain. It shows
Napoleon crossing the Great St Bernard Pass in May 1800 at the head of
the Army of the Alps. David painted five nearly identical versions; the
first is at the château de Malmaison.
The painting is imperial propaganda, plain and simple: a real
crossing (on a mule, with no glory in it) rebuilt as a heroic feat, tying
Napoleon to Hannibal and Charlemagne through the names carved in the
rocks in the foreground. Pyramid of a figure, rearing horse, cloak in the
wind. An equestrian portrait of a Roman emperor for the new man in
charge.
