Platinotype print – Emperor Napoleon
£250.00
1 in stock
An interesting portrait with a handwritten account of conversations between W.G. Cumming and Napoleon during his trip to Elba.
Platinotype print c1899: (A photographic copy of an engraved portrait of Napoleon, dated 1810). Framed and glazed. Printed at Graham’s art studios, Leamington Spa. The photographer’s label is pasted on the back of the picture.
The following text is inscribed above the label in brown ink:
“George William Cumming Lieutt R.N. died July 26, 1823. He was made Lieutenant of “the Superb” at the siege of Algiers 5 he was wounded. He died from the effects of this wound. The picture of which this is a copy was given by G.W. Cumming to his brother the Revd Professor Cumming of Trinity College Cambridge as a really good likeness of the emperor Napoleon. W.G. Cumming was one of the officers on board the ship which took the emperor to Elba, and as he was the only one who could speak French he saw and talked constantly with Napoleon. This picture came into the possession of my aunt Mm Isabella Bacebus on the death of her father Professor Cumming, and the above history of it was given her by him. This copy was given me by Mm Bacebus July 5th 1899. Robert Holmes Edleston”.
Printed image: 11 7/16 x 8 1/8 in. (29 x 20.5 cm.)
Frame: 18 3/8 x 14 1/2 (46.8 x 36.7 cm.)
Provenance: Descendants of the family.
