Since I Left You

Dimensions (cm):
177cm wide x 87cm tall (unframed)
Dimensions (in):
70 inches wide x 34 inches tall (unframed)
Surface:
Canvas - 12oz Cotton Duck on sustainable hardwood stretcher bars, crafted from certified hardwood plantations.
Frame:
Unframed chocolate painted edge - alternatives available on request
Medium:
Acrylic - ASTM 1 & 2
Finish:
Krylon Matt Finish
Signed:
Signed front and back with Certificate of Authenticity

A letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais, 17 July 1796

The year was 1796. Napoleon Bonaparte was twenty-six, newly appointed commander of the French Army in Italy. He had been married just four months earlier to Joséphine de Beauharnais, a beautiful and socially connected widow six years his senior.

Though their marriage was strategic, Napoleon fell quickly and deeply in love. Joséphine, still living in Paris, did not return the intensity of his affection. From the battlefield, he wrote to her constantly - his letters full of desire, frustration, and emotional need.

In this letter, written late at night, Napoleon confesses that the distance between them has hollowed him out. He is not writing as a general or a statesman, but as a man undone by longing. His need for her is not poetic, it is physical. He tells her he is exhausted, agitated, and unable to sleep.

Their relationship would go on to be marked by infidelity, power struggles, and political sacrifice, but in this moment, his love is stripped of pride. He wants only her.

To Josephine, at Milan

Marmirolo, July 17, 1796, 9 P.M.

I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your health should be better to-day — I am sure you are cured. I urge you strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do you good.

Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Josephine keep constantly alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses.

When, free from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to you?

I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be able to rejoin me. I thought I loved you some days ago; but, since I saw you, I feel that I love you even a thousand times more. Ever since I have known you, I worship you more every day; which proves how false is the maxim of La Bruyère that “Love comes all at once.”

Everything in nature has a regular course, and different degrees of growth. Ah! pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, less tender, and, especially, less kind; above all never be jealous, never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood.

Be sure that it is no longer possible for me to have a thought except for you, or an idea of which you shall not be the judge.

Have a good rest. Haste to get well. Come and join me, so that, at least, before dying, we could say — “We were happy for so many days!!”

Millions of kisses, and even to Fortuné, in spite of his naughtiness.

Bonaparte


This work is currently on loan and will be available from July 1

$6,500 Free domestic shippingFor international shipping, please make an enquiry
$6,500
$6,500
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the specifications for Since I Left You?

Since I Left You measures 177cm wide by 87cm tall, unframed, part of the Parch collection. The piece is painted in acrylic on 12oz cotton duck canvas, stretched over sustainable hardwood bars from certified plantations. Since I Left You is presented in a chocolate timber frame and carries a matt archival finish to protect its surface from fading. It is signed on the front and back and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Keep it away from direct sunlight and high humidity to preserve its warm neutral, soft stone and parchment tones over time."

Since I Left You comes with free shipping anywhere in Australia. For international orders, please contact Lee J Morgan Art to arrange delivery and costs. Since I Left You is framed to order once purchased, with a two week turnaround before it leaves the studio, so it will not be dispatched immediately. Add this framing period to the usual courier delivery time when working out an arrival date. If you need Since I Left You by a specific date, let us know and we will try to accommodate your timeline.

Yes, you are welcome to view Since I Left You in person at the studio in northwestern Sydney. Appointments give you a chance to see the warm neutral, soft stone and parchment tones up close and get a true sense of scale before committing. Photographs rarely capture the texture and depth of an original piece as well as seeing it directly. Contact Lee J Morgan Art to book a time that suits you, and we can also talk through framing and placement options while you visit.

Since I Left You is a large-scale piece at 177cm by 87cm, so it reads best as a feature wall moment rather than a supporting accent, ideally on a wall at least 2.2 metres wide. Its landscape format suits placement above a console, behind a dining table or in an entryway, where its warm neutral, soft stone and parchment tones can set the tone for the room. Soft directional lighting lifts the surface detail. Since I Left You suits contemporary, warm minimalist or transitional interiors, and works equally well in residential or commercial settings.

Since I Left You's warm neutral, soft stone and parchment tones pair beautifully with warm timbers such as walnut or American oak, alongside brushed brass or aged bronze hardware that lifts the palette. A warm limestone or terracotta floor grounds the setting, while linen curtains in a soft neutral shade let the surface stand out without competing. A boucle cushion in a complementary tone adds a further layer of texture. Since I Left You also sits well beside blackbutt furniture or a dark timber console.