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HAVING CROWNED HIMSELF
emperor, Napoleon crowns Jose–
phine, his first wife, as empress.
He recognized the utility of art as a
política/ instrument and commis–
sioned the painting of himself by
lngres, below left. Napoleon once
commented to a court painter, "No
one asks if portraits of great men
are accurate likenesses. The only
essential thing is to recognize their
genius." Below right, Napoleon re–
turns from the battle of Laon in
1814.