Napoleon Holding Josephine's Crown

While painting the Consecration, David was faced with the problem of selecting the most significant moment of the ceremony to commemorate. At first, he planned to show Napoleon raising Josephine’s crown above his own crowned head while pressing his ceremonial sword close to his heart. Although it is often said that this drawing and others show Napoleon crowning himself, it is known that he did not put on two crowns (itself a difficult task), and the crown he holds is certainly that of Josephine.