Napoleon - Wax bust

As soon as the Consulate began, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) understood the importance of presenting his image to the French people. He therefore began to build his own legend. He made use of every means, from sculptures to snuffboxes and fans. The multitude of objects bearing the Emperor's effigy or depicting imperial symbols constituted an extraordinary propaganda tool for the Napoleonic legend. During the Restoration, however, the Bonapartists were forced to hide and prepare their revenge, spreading an ever-increasing number of subversive objects. The Emperor's death in 1821 made him less dangerous in the eyes of the royalists and copies depicting his main deeds multiplied once again. The Second Empire (1852) formalized the imperial legend by commissioning sculptures to be placed in public squares and paintings to be displayed in museums. Although the Second Empire had restored official propaganda, the fall of the regime in 1870 put an end to the celebration of Napoleon for 20 years. Nationalist fervor reignited in the 1890s and since then he has never ceased to be a heroic figure.