Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie-Louise of Austria
The marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte to Marie-Louise of Austria was a political union that enabled Europe to enjoy a brief respite from war.
Motivated by the need for an heir, Emperor Napoleon I divorced his first wife Josephine in 1809.
In 1810 he entered into a marriage by proxy in Vienna to Marie-Louise, daughter of Francis I of Austria. This union afforded him the possibility of peace in Europe and an association with the grand aristocratic families for his future descendants.
The arrival of Marie-Louise in Compiègne on March 27, 1810 marked the beginning of the wedding festivities, which were extensively illustrated. The event had repercussions on the artistic production of the day in all fields: painting, tableware, fashion, etc.