Did Napoleon sit on his wife's lap?

There is no credible historical evidence that Napoleon Bonaparte sat on his wife's lap, and the image is inconsistent with court etiquette and his personality as an emperor. This question likely comes from modern internet memes, satirical cartoons, or confusion with paintings that show intimate domestic scenes. Napoleon was known to be affectionate with his first wife Josephine and his second wife Marie Louise in private, but as Emperor of the French, he was extremely conscious of dignity, protocol, and public image. Court etiquette at the Tuileries Palace was rigid, based on the old Bourbon court, and an emperor sitting on his wife's lap would have been seen as undignified and unthinkable in front of staff and courtiers. In private letters, Napoleon did describe more playful moments with Josephine, such as lying at her feet or being tender, but these were romantic gestures typical of their early passionate relationship, not literally sitting on her lap. Paintings from the period by artists like Jean-Louis David show Napoleon standing dominantly next to his seated wife during coronation scenes, emphasizing his authority. Some modern comedic depictions or British satirical cartoons may have shown him in emasculating positions to mock him, but those are propaganda, not historical fact. So while Napoleon was capable of affection, there is no authenticated account, letter, or memoir from Josephine, Marie Louise, or their household staff describing him sitting on his wife's lap.