Pierre AUDOUIN. 1768-1822. Draughtsman, engraver. - Lot 161

Pierre AUDOUIN. 1768-1822. Draughtsman, engraver. Portraits of Emperor Napoleon and Empress Marie-Louise. Paris, Chez Thierry, Circa 1810. Pair of engravings published by Audouin, including: - the portrait of Emperor Napoleon after Charles de Chatillon, with vignette depicting the Battle of Austerlitz, after Duplessis-Bertaux and engraved by Bovinet (ABE - wetness in upper margin); - the portrait of Empress Marie-Louise on a drawing by Bourdon, after the bust of Bosio; in its first printing with vignette depicting the coronation of 1804, after Laurent and engraved by Lerouge and Bovinet.(BE). When Napoleon married Marie-Louise in 1810, Audouin reprinted the portrait of the Emperor he had published in 1806, and, wishing to match it with that of the new Empress, saved a plate. While the publisher used Josephine's portrait to create that of Marie-Louise, he omitted to change the bas-relief of the first empress's coronation. He commissioned a second proof of this plate, deleting the cartouche and replacing it with a centered inscription of the double-headed Austrian eagle, and modifying the legend and dedications. Engravings framed under glass (the glass for the portrait of Napoleon is missing). H_48 cm W_51 cm