|
This room gathers together all the
Napoleonic art and objects assembled by the 5th
Earl of Rosebery - the most important Napoleonic collection
outside France. It includes pictures of Napoleon and members
of his family by Appiani, David, Lefebvre, Giroolet and Wicar;
Napoleon's throne as First Consul; his magnificent shaving
stand from the Palace of Compiègne; his shutters, desk
and chair when in exile on St. Helena; the pillow on which
his head rested after his death. As a contrast, it also contains
the ingenious collapsible campaign chair of the Emperor's
most implacable opponent: the Duke of Wellington.
|
|
The 5th Earl was a historian as well
as a politician. He was fascinated by the enigma of greatness:
those mysterious qualities which mark the individuals who
change the course of events. Napoleon, in particular, was
a lifelong interest. The 5th Earl's biography Napoleon: the
Last Phase remains a standard work for students of the Emperor's
later life.
|
