The Reason Why Napoleon Always Hid His Hand
Everyone knows that Napoleon Bonaparte had short stature. But did you know that he was a military giant? With his enormous ambitions, he is remembered as one of the best military leaders in all of human history.
But still, he remains a mysterious man. There are many questions when it comes to Napoleon Bonaparte, but the most pervasive question is: why did he always hide his right hand in his clothes? What exactly was he trying to hide from the rest of the world?
A Hidden Secret
If you look through the historic portraits of Napoleon, you’ll begin to notice it more and more – his right hand is always conspicuously absent, maddeningly tucked away in his coat.
Was he trying to hide something that would damage his reputation? Or was the hidden hand actually a secret message for his enemies or friends? When historians looked deeper into the strange stance, their findings surprised everyone.
A Popular Subject
It’s no secret that Napoleon was the subject of many paintings – the one-time Emperor of the French posed for dozens of them during his lifetime.
But the way he always ensured his hand was hidden from view has been the subject of many bizarre rumors over the years. So, what was the truth behind his missing right hand?
At The Heart Of It All
The most well-known example of Napoleon’s strange stance is by the French artist Jacques-Louis David. Painted in 1812, it is one of the most iconic images of the man in history.
At the time it was painted, Napoleon was the Emperor of the French. This is why this image is at the heart of a 200-year old mystery.
In All His Glory
Although the painting, titled The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries, was not painted from life, the artist superbly captured the great leader’s stately glory.
The portrait was commissioned by the Scottish politician Alexander Hamilton. Napoleon was so impressed when he saw the portrait that he said: “You have understood me, my dear David.” But just what, exactly, had the artist understood?