Bookend Napoleon in front of the Imperial Guard

The bookend Napoleon in front of his troops shows the Emperor, cloak in hand, watching the Imperial Guard march past, based on the artist's work.

The Napoleon in front of his troops bookends show the emperor, cape in the wind, watching the Imperial Guard's grognards march past, based on the artist's work. Napoleon Bonaparte, born in Corsica in 1769, is one of the most emblematic figures in world history. He emerged as a talented and ambitious general during the Napoleonic Wars that shook Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Napoleon led France through a tumultuous period, becoming First Consul in 1799 and then Emperor in 1804. His reign was characterized by far-reaching reforms, including the Code Napoléon, which had a lasting influence on legal systems around the world. However, he was also known for his expansionist ambitions and numerous military campaigns, including the conquest of vast territories in Europe. His defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 marked the end of his reign and exiled him to the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

Napoleon's name remains associated with the Napoleonic era, a period of radical change in Europe, and its lasting impact on modern institutions, laws and politics. His military genius and achievements, as well as his failures, have made him one of history's most studied and controversial figures.