For the Good of the Nation
artist
Francesco Didioni
(Milan, 1859 - 1895, Stresa)
engraver
Alberto Maso Gilli
(1840 - 1894)
Dateabout 1881
Place MadeItaly, Europe
MediumEtching on Chine collé
Dimensions34 x 47.3 cm (13 3/8 x 18 5/8 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberP17s13
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryWhile attending finishing school in Paris during the 1850s, Isabella Stewart Gardner was captivated by French literature, culture, and history. Of particular note is her interest in the former French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. This etching by Francesco Didioni, aptly titled For the Good of the Nation, depicts the divorce of Napoleon and his wife Josephine. In 1809, Napoleon informed Josephine that--in the interest of France--he must divorce her in order to find a wife that could give him an heir. Although he promptly remarried, which resulted in a male heir, Napoleon insisted that Josephine retain the title of empress and remained dedicated to her the rest of his life. Her name is said to be the final word he spoke on his deathbed in 1821.
Id725711
Last Updated8/9/24
EmbARK ObjectID12275
Previous Number1F17s4-s
Source ID1408
