Portrait de Napoléon Ier (1769-1821), en uniforme de colonel des chasseurs de la Garde

Robert Lefevre was a prominent French portrait painter of the neoclassical period. Born in Bayeux, France in 1755, he began his artistic career as a pupil of the painter Jean-Baptiste Regnault. Lefevre quickly gained recognition for his skilful depictions of historical and mythological subjects, as well as his portraits of French aristocrats and members of the royal family. In 1791, Lefevre was appointed professor at the newly founded École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he taught many of the leading artists of the day. He continued to receive commissions for portraits throughout his career, including several of Napoleon Bonaparte and his family. Lefevre's style was characterised by precision and clarity, with an emphasis on accurate anatomical detail and a restrained use of colour. His works often featured simple, elegant compositions that emphasised the personality and character of the sitter. Among Lefevre's most famous works are his portraits of Napoleon's sisters, Pauline Borghese and Caroline Murat, and his depiction of the Emperor himself in his coronation robes. Lefevre died in Paris in 1830, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most important portrait painters of his time.