A pencil drawing showing Napoleon Bonaparte on his deathbed, in full uniform and decorations. Mounted on black and purple paper with initial N in gold.

This drawing is one of many versions of drawings of Napoleon on his deathbed that were made and circulated widely through prints. According to the artist, this drawing was made at St Helena on the day after Napoleon's death, and 'universally acclaimed as superior to all others of the same subject' (letter from the artist to his mother, 18 June 1821, included with the drawing at Sotheby's, 18 June 1934, lot 266). The drawing was also lithographed by E. Purcell and published 3 December 1821 (an impression in the National Library of Ireland), and republished in The Graphic, 9 September 1911.

Other versions of the same subject include drawings by J. Ward, Esq, 4th Regiment of Foot, reproduced in a woodcut in the Illustrated London News, 25 Janury 1873; and a drawing in the possession of Dr G. C. Williamson, a photograph of which by T. G. Finch was sent to the Royal Family, 2 August 1934. Others include a drawing by J.W. Rubidge (engraved by H. Meyer) purchsed by Lieut. G. Horlsey Wood and presented to Napoleon III, and a version by Capt. Frederick Marryat R.N. in the collection of A. G. D. Fuller (Sotheby's 19 December, 1945).