Napoleon Entering Brighton Beach (Coney Island)

After Meissonier’s Retreat from Moscow

1981, archival print, 27 x 40 in.

Richard Sloat, artist; past president, Society of American Graphic Artists; and Academician, National Academy, wrote of this work:

“Coney Island is a place of fun and gaiety. Moscow is serious, the place strived for but unobtainable, Moses’ Promised Land, beyond the river we cannot cross. We work and make our efforts but may not be able to get to Moscow, the Promised Land; we can, however, get to Coney Island….For Napoleon to be leading his army in retreat down the boardwalk of Coney Island is a bit heroic, a bit tragic, a bit funny, a bit absurd, but also glorious. Is this not a wonderful metaphor of our living this life?”

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