Laurent De L'Ardeche History of Napoleon; From The French Of M. Laurent De L'Ardeche, Member Of The Institute Of France. With Five Hundred Illustrations After Designs BY Horace Vernet; And Twenty Original Portraits. Published by D. Appleton & Company, New York, No date Ca 1848 Horace Vernet (illustrator). A late 19th-century edition of Paul-Mathieu Laurent de l'Ardèche's "History of Napoleon," which was a highly illustrated biography. The specific edition from around 1848 includes 22 colour plates, in addition to 500 black-and-white illustrations and 20 original portraits by Horace Vernet. The first English translation of this work, translated from the French of the lawyer, historian and politician, Paul-Methieu Laurent, or Laurent De L'Ardeche. These two English volumes were published here as one volume the same year as the first French edition of the text. Illustrated, with five-hundred in-text illustrations after designs by Horace Vernet. Vernet was a French painter who was known for his depictions of battle scenes. With twenty-two plates. Twenty of the plates are portraits by M Jacque. Twentieth century historian Pierre Broue, attributed this work as one of the many that contributed to the construction of the Napoleonic Legend, or 'Legende Napoleonienne'. He states in the preface, 'This is the man, whom a little aristocracy wish to denounce as an odious despot and an insatiable conqueror. But in the breasts of the Artizan, the laborer and the soldier, he is still cherished as the 'Man of the People' as the personification of that spirit of equality which pervaded both his administration and the camp, and which to this day pervades the whole European Society'... 'This is the man, whose history we hope to trace in a temper equally devoid of adulation or detraction'. Black leather with tooling and gilt design, emblem, marbled text block. Over 500 illustrations with 22 beautiful colour including Josephine, Napoleon and officers of Napoleon's army. In good condition. Some rubbing on edges, corners a little bumped, with foxing throughout. Old owner's inscription on front endpaper. Else generally clean & tight. Size 9.25 x 6 inches