The Printed Work of Vivant Denon (1747--1825)

Abstract

The fifth chapter examines the etchings Denon executed for Jacques-Louis David as graveur de 1a Republique upon his return to Paris in December 1793. These images are evidence for Denon's involvement with radical revolutionary politics under Robespierre's terror regime. The plates Denon published in 1802 for an illustrated description of travels undertaken together with Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign of 1798/99 are discussed in chapter six as examples of pro-Napoleonic propaganda. The concluding chapter describes the prints executed during and after Denon's tenure as Louvre director between 1802 and 1815, which depict, among other subjects, scenes from Napoleon's battles, medal designs, society portraits and objects from Denon's private art collection.