Veille de Bataille

“Veille de Bataille” (Eve of Battle)
This sculpture, titled Veille de Bataille (Eve of Battle), depicts Napoleon Bonaparte seated in deep contemplation before a battle, intently focused on his strategic plans.

The sculptural table features hinged books that conceal a compartment intended to house a (now missing) brass insert inkpot. Also present is a modeled oil lantern, fitted with a low-wattage incandescent bulb and wired to a two-slot Europlug. The base is crafted from black crystalline “Portoro” marble, grooved to accommodate a writing pen.

Napoleon Bonaparte—later known as Napoleon I—was a French general and statesman who rose to power during the French Revolution. He led a series of military campaigns across Europe during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1796 to 1815.

The sculptor, Émile-Joseph Carlier, was trained in drawing and sculpture in Cambrai, Valenciennes, and Paris. His studies were briefly interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, but he later resumed his training under renowned sculptor François Jouffroy. Encouraged by figures such as Henri Chapu and Ernest-Eugène Hiolle, Carlier went on to enjoy a successful career, earning numerous awards at the Salon and the 1889 Exposition Universelle.

Carlier was known for his realistic and detailed work, often exploring themes of history, mythology, and everyday life. His other notable works include:

• Une femme allongée (A Woman Lying Down)
• Les fées des eaux (The Water Fairies)
• Un buste en bronze (A Bronze Bust)
• Un soldat (A Soldier)

Veille de Bataille was created in the early 20th century, during a period in which military subjects experienced renewed artistic interest following World War I. Carlier’s thoughtful portrayal of Napoleon blends historical reverence with expressive realism, capturing both the solitude of leadership and the weight of impending battle.

Sold for €400 (est. $462) on 6/2025