Focus on The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries and explain the Development.
An analysis of the original painting reveals that the artist reedited the composition and details several times to balance the image, add allusions, and capture a complete story.
Brush strokes and texture indicate that an earlier version had
Napoleon's upper body flanked by two fluted columns about the width
of the figure's torso.  These strong vertical elements would have created a
distraction from the central figure.
These columns were revised to a carved panel in shadow (on the viewer's
left) and a clock with a large face (viewer's right) on level with and
somewhat larger than the figure's face.  The clock was later repainted
with a smaller face moved up and to the right, with the clock body still
covering the underlying column brush strokes.
These revisions greatly improved the compositional balance of the
painting's upper section, reducing the impression of three vertical
columns.  They successfully moved the viewer's focus to Napoleon's face and
expression and away from the presumably accurate stature and
middle-heavy build.
The change also allowed incorporating additional symbology, most notably
the time (4:13).
Other revisions were added symbols on the table items and lower section,
many painted over fleurs-de-lis which are conspicuously rare in the final image.
Napoleon fleurs-de-lis