This painting shows the general Bonaparte facing the Great Sphinx of Giza, built during the Old Kingdom in c. 2558–2532 BC. The episode took place during the French Campaign in Egypt, with the purpose of undermining Britain’s access to and commerce with India and the East Indies

The canvas is dominated by the Sphinx and in the far distance are French soldiers in rectangular formations in a dessert valley under a clear blue sky

Napoleon, then just 29 years old when he led the invasion of Egypt, is portrayed here to be mounted on his horse, and gazing in meditation upon the enigmatic face of stone. The contrast between the colossal monument and the small size of Napoleon is striking; however, the general appears cool and confident through his posture. Despite the apparent calmness in the scene, a fierce battle is about to begin, as suggested by the swishing tail of the horse, and the shadows of the senior military staff on the lower left corner. On July 21, 1798, the French army crushed the Ottoman and Mamluk forces in the Battle of the Pyramids

Despite this French victory on land, their navy was decisively defeated by the British in the Battle of the Nile just 10 days later, resulting in Napoleon and his army being stranded in Egypt and their eventual defeat 3 years later

The perspective chosen by the artist is such that the Great Pyramids are not visible in order to enhance the effect of two giants facing off each other. Perhaps for artistic purpose, Gérôme painted the body of the Sphinx as well, but in reality only its head and neck were visible at the time of the French Revolutionary Wars. A sketch made during the expedition led by Napoleon himself can be found in Description of Egypt, which was the largest published work in the world when it appeared in early 19th century