Description:

James Madison
[Paris, France], ca. 1811
James Madison Personally Owned Engraving of Napoleon, Impeccable Provenance!
Engraving
A stunningly oversized engraving of Napoleon Bonaparte in his coronation robes, printed by Auguste Gaspard Louis Desnoyers after François Gérard's 1805 painting. 1p, 19.75" x 26" (sight), [Paris, France], ca. 1811. Exhibits scattered foxing to outside perimeter with darkened age toning throughout; features a continuous line of uneven tearing, seemingly restored, starting from the top right and ending at lower left, not materially affecting image. Areas of minor paper loss near top right, with likely trimmed edges. Unexamined outside of frame. Overall, very attractive. Measures to a full size of 22.75" x 29.5".

Provenance: According to a Senior Researcher at James Madison's Montpelier, this piece was likely gifted to the President and First Lady by David Bailie Warden upon his return to America as Consul to Paris in 1811. Indeed, an 1836 inventory of the Montpelier dining room notes a large engraving of "Napoleon le Grand", which fits the description of the offered example. Framed together with a signed letter from Mary Causten Kunkel, a descendant of the Madison family, dated April 12, 1901 and countersigned by a Notary Public.

Kunkel's letter reads in full:

"This engraving of Napoleon in his coronation robes belonged to President Madison and to his wife Dolley Payne Madison, who was the aunt of my mother Mrs. J. H. Causten (Annie Payne) who was also the daughter by adoption of Mrs. Madison, from who I inherited this picture.
Mary Carvallo Causten Kunkel, affirmed and subscribed to before me this twelfth day of April A.D. 1901."

James Madison's presidency was notably marked by a tumultuous relationship with Napoleon in the years leading up to the War of 1812, making this engraving an intriguing addition to his personal collection. Despite his predecessor's successful deal in the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson often referred to the Emperor as a tyrant while simultaneously keeping him as an ally in America's conflict with the British. Indeed, seeking to drive a wedge between the Americans and the British, Napoleon offered to end French attacks on American shipping so long as the United States punished any countries that did not similarly end restrictions on trade. Then-President Madison accepted his proposal in the hope that it would convince the British to finally end their policy of commercial warfare. They refused, however, and Madison determined that the only other course of action would be to declare war, thus spurring the War of 1812. By the end of his Presidential tenure, Madison would have undoubtedly looked upon this depiction of the Emperor as a reminder of his misdirection and hubris.

This lot comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 22.75" x 29.5" (framed)
  • Medium: Engraving

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 29, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000