Born in Rome to French parents, Goubaud worked as a portrait and history painter there during the Napoleonic period and produced portraits of the Emperor and episodes from his political career. When he returned to France, he became director of the Musée de Marseille.
The subject of this portrait is Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753-1815), a close friend of Napoleon's who, as maréchal de France, planned military strategy with the emperor. Goubaud's portrait depicts the sitter in the same year Jacques Pajou portrayed him. Berthier was celebrated for his campaigns in Italy and Egypt and hailed for his performances at the battles of Marengo and Wagram. At Napoleon's December 1804 coronation, he held the imperial orb for his friend and colleague. Shortly after that, in 1809, Napoleon elevated him to Prince of Wagram, and Berthier remained loyal even during Napoleon's exile on Elba. He fell to his death under mysterious circumstances at his chateau.
Signed in black chalk at right, "Par J. Goubau[d cut off]"; inscribed in pen and brown ink at lower left, "Berthier / Prince de Vagrum", and again, at lower right, "Berth(?)".
Prouté, Paul, former owner.
Ryskamp, Charles, former owner.
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Eighteenth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975-1977. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1978, p. 265.