Artwork

Point Breeze, the Estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte at Bordentown, New Jersey

Point Breeze, the Estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte at Bordentown, New Jersey is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Charles B. Lawrence. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Charles Lawrence’s oil painting depicts Point Breeze, the former country estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte in Bordentown, New Jersey.

About this work

Overview

Charles Lawrence’s oil painting depicts Point Breeze, the former country estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte in Bordentown, New Jersey. The scene is bathed in a warm, golden light that illuminates a hill‑top homestead, a stone bridge, a lake, and winding paths amid gently rolling terrain and cultivated vegetation.

Subject & Meaning

The work records the landscaped grounds of the Bonaparte residence, a property acquired by the former French king after he fled Europe following Napoleon I’s defeat. By presenting the estate as a tranquil, idealized landscape, the painting reflects the owner’s desire for a genteel retreat in the New World.

Technique & Style

Lawrence employs a precise, detailed approach, rendering foliage and architectural elements with fine brushwork. A palette of greens and autumnal tones, combined with the luminous glow of the sun, creates a softly romantic atmosphere, while subtle contrasts of light and shadow model the forms without resorting to dramatic chiaroscuro.

History & Provenance

Born near Bordentown, Lawrence was familiar with the local topography, which may explain the accuracy of the depiction. The painting was likely produced in the early 19th century, during the period when Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte lived at Point Breeze, before the estate changed hands after his death.

Context

Point Breeze was part of a broader trend of American elites adopting European-style country estates in the post‑Revolutionary era. The landscape reflects contemporary tastes for the picturesque, emphasizing gentle slopes, water features, and cultivated plantings that echo English garden ideals.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles B. Lawrence

Charles B. Lawrence (c. 1790, Bordentown, New Jersey – 1864, Philadelphia (?)) (Charles Bird Lawrence) was an American painter; primarily of portraits and landscapes. He also produced copies of popular paintings by other artists.