Thursday 16 February 2012

Dictators love to be shown "working" long and hard hours on behalf of the people, after all they do have the people's true interests at heart. Here is a propaganda painting of Napoleon in his office in the wee hours of the morning working on drafting the Civil Code. It is by his favourite artist David from 1812. I contrast it with a similar one of George Washington from 1796. See the illustrated essay here </index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1563&Itemid=263>. We see similar posed shots of Obama in his office - but have you noticed how tidy and uncluttered his desk is?

Emperor Napoleon is standing in his study after having worked all night on developing the Civil Code (which was promulgated in 1804). His hair appears to be messed up and he sports a five o’clock shadow (or in this case a “four o’clock shadow”).