' Napoleon at The Saint Bernard Pass ' Jacques-Louis David ( French 1748 - 1825 ) oil on canvas circa 1800

Jacques-Louis David excelled in historical paintings and in portraits . His paintings are characterised by fine composition and draughtsmanship , with figures and forms of great sculptural dignity, as in the case with the painting " Napoleon Crossing The Alps " ( also known as " Napoleon at The Saint Bernard Pass ") David dedicated his artistry to the service of glorifying France's great hero , Napoleon . Perhaps the most powerful of all of David's images of Napoleon is the first of many commissions , recording the crossing of the Saint Bernard Pass in 1800 . Napoleon requested a traditional image ,showing him calm on a fiery steed , and David complied with a heroic and spirited stallion . In reality, Napoleon crossed the alps on a sure-footed mule ( see next posting : Paul Delarouche 'Napoleon Crossing The Alps ) According to David it was not appropriate for a man of destiny to be depicted on such an animal so he painted him on a dashing charger .