Bust of Caroline Bonaparte, Princess Murat, Queen of Naples

The Bust of Caroline Bonaparte, Princess Murat, Queen of Naples is a significant drawing by the master of French Neoclassicism, Jacques-Louis David French, 1748-1825. Executed sometime between 1805 and 1815, during the height of the Napoleonic Empire, this piece serves as a formal preparatory study for a finished portrait of Napoleon’s influential younger sister. The work is classified as a drawing, characterized by the delicate yet powerful use of charcoal applied directly to off-white laid paper, which was subsequently mounted, or tipped, onto a heavier cream wove paper for stability and preservation.

Caroline Bonaparte (1782-1839) was a central figure in European politics, holding the title of Queen of Naples as the wife of Marshal Joachim Murat. David, who served as the official painter to the Imperial Court, was tasked with creating the definitive visual iconography of the regime. This powerful charcoal drawing captures the serene and regal bearing expected of a high-ranking member of the Bonaparte family. The artist’s focus on defining the contours, drapery, and shadows using rapid, precise lines anticipates the polished finish of a final oil painting, demonstrating David's exceptional draftsmanship in capturing both likeness and official status.

This masterly study of a key political figure in early 19th-century France is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. David’s preparatory studies are highly valued for the insight they offer into the artist’s process and the cultural documentation of the Napoleonic era. Like many important historical drawings, high-resolution images of this work are often released into the public domain, allowing institutions and enthusiasts globally to access and produce high-quality prints of the sketch, preserving the legacy of Neoclassical portraiture.