Artwork
Belvedere Palace Gardens, Vienna
Belvedere Palace Gardens, Vienna is a photographic photography by Pamela F.R.P.S. Booth. It dates from 1933 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A 1933 sepia-toned photograph, attributed to Pamela F.
About this work
Notice how the light and shadow play on the horse’s body, it’s almost like the artist used a technique to make the statue look even more alive.
This photo shows a dramatic statue of a horse rearing up on its hind legs. The horse stands on a tall stone pedestal near a bridge, with a building and trees in the background. The lighting is soft, making the horse’s muscles and the stone’s texture stand out.
The artist, Pamela Booth, took this photo in Vienna’s Belvedere Palace Gardens around 1933. Notice how the light and shadow play on the horse’s body, it’s almost like the artist used a technique to make the statue look even more alive.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more photos like this one.
Overview
A 1933 sepia-toned photograph, attributed to Pamela F.R.P.S. Booth, captures a dramatic statue of a rearing horse set amidst the outdoor landscape of Vienna's Belvedere Palace Gardens.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph's central subject is a horse statue in dynamic motion, elevated on a plinth near a bridge, with architectural and natural elements (buildings, trees) receding into the background, contextualizing the sculpture within a grand garden setting.
Technique & Style
The photograph features soft lighting, accentuating the textures of both the horse's muscles and the stone pedestal, as well as the interplay of light and shadow, which enhances the statue's vitality.
History & Provenance
Attributed to photographer Pamela F.R.P.S. Booth, the work is dated to 1933; its current location or full provenance details are not specified here, though similar works can be found at institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
The image reflects the aesthetic appreciation for sculpture in public gardens during the early 20th century, highlighting the Belvedere Palace Gardens as a setting that combines art, architecture, and nature.
Legacy
While specific impact of this photograph is not detailed, it contributes to the broader legacy of documenting European public art and gardens, influencing how such spaces are perceived and preserved.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pamela Booth kept a tiny Rolleiflex in her coat pocket and shot what she saw on walks, no fuss, no tripod, just a quick click between sips of tea.
- Sculpture - Of a Lion upon a Horse, now in the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol
Sculptures - The Colossal Horses, with the Statues of Castor and Pollux, the work of Phidias and Praxiteles (now in the Piazza di Monte Cavallo)
Gattamelata
In Memoriam
Arco San Carlo, Naples
Trafalgar Square
St. Aignan, Chartres
Sculpture - Colossal Foot, now in the Courtyard of the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol
Drawing
Two Peasant Women Before a Small Baptistry (above); Venice, Grand Canal (beow)
Sunshine
Sculpture of Diana, Versailles, France