Napoleon’s Bivouac: luxury and ingenuity on campaign

  • Le Bivouac de Napoléon : luxe et ingéniosité en campagne (18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015), Paris, Galerie des Gobelins
  • Le Bivouac de Napoléon (18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015), Paris, Galerie des Gobelins : Cabaret de Chasse, chaises pliantes © Fondation Napoléon
  • Le Bivouac de Napoléon (18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015), Paris, Galerie des Gobelins : Ecritoire de campagne du Maréchal Lannes offert par Napoléon Ier, longues vues de l'Empereur © Fondation Napoléon
  • Plans d'agencement de la tente de campagne de l'Empereur © Fondation Napoléon
  • Le Bivouac de Napoléon (18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015), Paris, Galerie des Gobelins : Tente de campagne, bureau, chaises pliantes de campagne et lit pliante de Desousches © Fondation Napoléon
  • Le Bivouac de Napoléon (18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015), Paris, Galerie des Gobelins: lit plié, toile et boite de transport, invention de Desouches, "serrurier du garde-meuble de S.M. l'Empereur et Roi" © Fondation Napoléon

Napoleon I was a great traveller. Even when he was on the road, the Emperor was accompanied by objects that were worthy of his rank. Every time he set up camp, he was accustomed to being surrounded by luxurious (foldable) furniture. The Garde-Meuble Impérial, predecessor of the Mobilier National, was the guardian of these objects. The Maison de l’Empereur, for its part, was responsible for maintaining the proper habits and etiquette of the imperial palace. In order to prevent accidents while travelling, the costly and finely-crafted pieces of furniture and equipment that accompanied the Emperor on his travels were generally protected by specially-made transport cases, which were themselves also beautifully made. The furniture for Napoleon’s “bivouac” needed to combine both practical considerations (in order to withstand frequent manipulation) as well as comfort and refinement with a corresponding choice of high quality materials.

This autumn the Mobilier National presents an exhibition designed to give an idea of what the Emperor’s military camp would have looked like, especially through the installation of an authentic historic tent. Le Bivouac de Napoléon: luxe et ingéniosité en campagne (Napoleon’s Bivouac: luxury and ingenuity on campaign) is part of the larger display L’esprit et la main : héritage et savoir-faire des ateliers du Mobilier national which opened at the Galerie des Gobelins in March 2015. This new display is inspired by two exhibitions which took place in 2014 (at the Musée des Beaux-arts d’Ajaccio and the Galerie Demidoff on the island of Elba). It offers visitors the opportunity to discover a little known aspect of the daily life of the Emperor.

Place: Galerie des Gobelins, Paris
Dates: 18 septembre – 13 décembre 2015
Curator: Jehanne Lazaj, assisted by Justin Beaugrand-Fortunel
Scenography: Jérôme Dumoux

Number of visitors : 16 000

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