Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-william-quiller-orchardson-407" aria-label="More by Sir William Quiller Orchardson" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir William Quiller Orchardson</a>
Napoleon on Board Bellerophon
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1880
actions: postures and motions
adults
Bertrann, General
boy
children
contemplation
deck
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
emperor
French
group
groups
history
isolation
Lallemand, General
Las Cases, Count
man
mast
military
military
Montholon, General
named individuals
Napoleon
Napoleonic Wars, 1796-1815
nationality
objects
people
Planat, Colonel
politics and society
politics: Napoleon, exile, 1815
rigging
royalty and social rank
sadness
sail
sailor
Savary, General
scientific and measuring
sea
seascapes and coasts
ship, sailing
ship, warship, ‘HMS Bellerophon’
society
soldier
standing
telescope
transport: water
work and occupations
<p>Orchardson was trained in Edinburgh, and moved to London in 1862 where he made his name as a painter of historical genre scenes. His admirers included Whistler, Sickert and Degas. He is now best known for his modern moral subjects such as The First Cloud, in the Tate Collection. This painting shows Napoleon on board HMS Bellerophon bound for St Helena, where he remained in exile until his death in 1821. The deposed Emperor stands on the deck, isolated from the group of ['naval' out] officers on the left, who watch him with curiosity as he looks out to sea, contemplating his fate.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
24 October 2001 – 11 July 2005
2005-07-11
24 October 2001
2001-10-24
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2001-10-24
Making British History
Collection based display
Napoleon on Board the Bellerophon
support: 1651 × 2489 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1880
<p>Orchardson was trained in Edinburgh,  and moved to London in 1862 where he made his name as a painter of historical <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/genres" title="Glossary definition for 'Genres'"><span>genre</span></a> scenes. His admirers included Whistler, Sickert and Degas. He is  now best known for his <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/modern-moral-subject" title="Glossary definition for 'Modern Moral Subject'"><span>modern moral subjects</span></a> such as The First Cloud, in  the Tate Collection. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> shows Napoleon on board HMS Bellerophon bound for St Helena, where he remained in exile until his death in 1821. The deposed Emperor stands on the deck, isolated from the group of ['naval' out] officers on the left, who watch him  with curiosity as he looks out to sea, contemplating his fate. </p>
Display caption
2004-09-08T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
actions: postures and motions adults Bertrann, General boy children contemplation deck emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas emperor French group groups history isolation Lallemand, General Las Cases, Count man mast military military Montholon, General named individuals Napoleon Napoleonic Wars, 1796-1815 nationality objects people Planat, Colonel politics and society politics: Napoleon, exile, 1815 rigging royalty and social rank sadness sail sailor Savary, General scientific and measuring sea seascapes and coasts ship, sailing ship, warship, ‘HMS Bellerophon’ society soldier standing telescope transport: water work and occupations