Object Description
A bronze portrait of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, by Andrieu, showing Napoleon facing to the right and wearing the laurel garland of a Roman emperor, stamped Andrieu Fecit (Andrieu made it), in an oval frame. The paper label on the reverse stating ‘the signatures are those of the French medallist Bertrand Andrieu (1761-1822)’, French, circa 1820
Bertrand Andrieu (1761-1822), was a French engraver of medals. Born in Bordeaux, he revived the art of medal making (while declined after the reign of Louis XIV) and portrait miniatures in metal. Having won distinction as a draughtsman, at the Academie de Peinture of Bordeaux, at 25, he entered the studio of sculptor and medallist Gatteaux. Towards the end of his life, he was the commissioned by French government to undertake many major works. His hounours included; Knight of the Royal Order of St Michael, Order of the Lys and Honorary Member of the Academy of Fine Arts of Vienna.