Focusing on portrait painting in Paris during the Consulate (November 1799 to May 1804), this book explores the contextual nexus in which the Portrait of Cooper Penrose was created. Philippe Bordes considers how this picture relates to other works painted by David during this period and to portraits painted by the artist's contemporaries, and also explores the political and social consequences of David's attitude to Bonaparte, the artist's relations with his clients, and the state of his family finances during this period.

This investigation of the Portrait of Cooper Penrose constitutes the most complete analysis of the picture ever undetaken. Bordes proposes that Penrose selected David as his portraitist not only because of his international renown as an artist, but also because of his reputation as a Revolutionary.