Napoleon was not only a true lover of art, but an excellent connoisseur.
He did more to elevate the arts and sciences in France than all the
monarchs together who had preceded him. It was a part of his policy to
honor and reward every man of genius, no matter what his origin, and
thus to develop the intellect of his country. He foresaw the advantage
of making Paris the great centre of art; therefore he did not hesitate
to transport from the countries he conquered, the most renowned and
valuable works of ancient and modern times. "Paris is Rome; Paris is now
the great centre of art," said he to Canova in 1810, when that great
sculptor visited Paris at his command, and whom he endeavored to
persuade to permanently remain in his service. West, after his return to
England from Paris, where he had had several interviews with Bonaparte,
expressed his admiration of the man in such warm terms as offended the
officials of the government, and caused such opposition, that he deemed
it proper to resign the President's chair in the Royal Academy. The
truth is, it was not the conqueror, as the English pretended, but his
exalted ideas of the arts, and of their value to a country, which
captivated West, whose peaceful tenets led him to abhor war and
devastation.
Napoleon's enlightened policy is also seen in those stupendous works
published by the French government, as the _Description de l'Egypte, ou
Recueil des Observationes et des Recherches pendant l'Expedition de
l'Armée Français_, 25 vols. in elephant folio. This work corresponds in
grandeur of its proportions to the edifices and monuments which it
describes. Everything that zeal in the cause of science, combined with
the most extensive knowledge, had been able to collect in a land
abounding in monuments of every kind, and in the rarest curiosities, is
described and illustrated in this work by a committee of savans
appointed for the purpose. It contains more than 900 engravings, and
3000 illustrative sketches. The Musée Français, and the Musée Royal,
containing 522 plates, after the gems of the world, are not less grand
and magnificent, and far more valuable contributions to art. These will
be described in a subsequent page. Such was Napoleon; deprive him of
every other glory, his love of art, and what he did for its promotion,
and the adornment of his country, would immortalize his name.
Napoleon delighted to spend some of his leisure moments in contemplating
the master pieces of art which he had gathered in the Louvre, and that
he might go there when he pleased, without parade, he had a private
gallery constructed leading to that edifice from the Tuilleries. (See
Spooner's Dictionary of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, and Architects,
articles West, David, Denon, Canova, etc., and vol i., page
8, of this work.)