Description:

Napoleon Bonaparte's Tomb on St. Helena, Lovely Period Watercolor

A watercolor on paper depicting the Valley of the Tomb, the first burial site of former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) on the island of St. Helena. The pencil and watercolor drawing, ca. 19th century, is on thick, cream paper embossed with a Neo-Classical border by Henry Dobbs of London. The drawing is inscribed "Buonapartes Tomb. I. of St. Helena" along the bottom and is initialed "H.S.S." at lower right. Also discretely printed "Dobbs London" along the right edge of the embossed border. Isolated imperfections to the paper including light discoloration and foxing, else near fine. Matted and framed behind glass. Not examined out of frame. The sight size of the watercolor (excluding the embossed border) is 6.875" x 3.5" while the overall size of the framed piece is 10.5" x 7.625" x .625."

Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, the tropical island in the south Atlantic Ocean, between late 1815 and his death of suspected stomach cancer on May 5, 1821. Though Napoleon never wanted to be buried on St. Helena, he had planned for this contingency, requesting to be buried in a place on the island where he often walked and liked to drink the spring water. This was a lush depression alternately called the Valley of the Tomb, Willow Valley, Geranium Valley, or Sane Valley. Napoleon's remains were interred there between 1821 and 1840, when they were transferred to Les Invalides in Paris. The fenced-in tomb site can still be visited today (see attached picture for reference.)

The watercolor depicts a traveler seated on the stone wall overlooking Napoleon's tomb, though interestingly the slab is not visible. "H.S.S." has painted two white structures in the distant background, which might represent Longwood House, Napoleon's residence on St. Helena. It is unknown whether "H.S.S." was a British tourist and amateur artist who actually visited the burial site, or just imagined it.

Henry Dobbs of London produced a series of embossed papers like this one featuring different patterns. This pattern incorporating griffins, masques, amphorae, and cartouches is quite representative of the pieces produced by Dobbs & Company, a "firm of embossers, print publishers, and 'ornamental stationers to the King.'"

This item 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.

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