Adam's visual narrative unfolds in the form of seven historiated scenes per sheet depicting Napoleon’s life from the military academy at Brienne in 1779 through his political associations and military campaigns to his death in 1821. Two portraits by N. Maurin of various historical figures complete the plates throughout. The French edition appeared, undated in 1833. The Swedish edition was printed and published by Swedish artist Carl Axel Adam von Schéele’s (1797–1873) who had studied the reproduction techniques of the burgeoning art of stone printing under the guidance of its inventor Alois Senefelder in Munich.
From the library of Josef Sachs (1872-1949), Swedish entrepreneur, patron of the arts and collector, founder of Harrods inspired Swedish department store "cultural and commercial theatre" NK.