Le
Gros came therefore delighted, at the time appointed, into the
cabinet of Josephine, and had his easel ready, awaiting the moment
when Bonaparte would sit in the arm-chair opposite. But, alas! the
painter's hopes were not to be realized. The general could not bring
himself to sit in. that arm-chair, doing nothing but keeping his
head quiet, so that the painter might copy his features. He had no
sooner been seated, than he sprang up suddenly, and declared it was
quite impossible to endure such martyrdom.
Le Gros dared not repeat his request, but with tears in his eyes
gathered up his painting-materials. Josephine smiled. "I see very
well," said she, "that I must have recourse to some extraordinary
means to save for me and for posterity a portrait of the hero of
Arcola."
She sat down in the arm-chair, and beckoned to Le Gros to have his
easel in readiness. Then with a tender voice she called Napoleon to
her, and opening both arms she drew him down on her lap, and in this
way she induced him to sit down quietly a few moments and allow the
painter the sight of his face, thus enabling him to sketch the
portrait.
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