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Bas-relief depicting a Gorgon Head in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Putto

Dominant colour

Bas-relief depicting a Gorgon Head in terra cotta is a 1864 photographic by Louise Laffon, a Impressionism work, depicting Putto, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Louise Laffon
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

The story of this work

Overview

A terra cotta bas-relief of a Gorgon Head was photographed by Louise Laffon in 1864 as part of a series documenting objects from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 albumen prints from this series, including this work, through the Parisian dealer Monsieur E. Cappe. Laffon’s photographs were mounted on gilded cards bearing the gender-neutral stamp "L. Laffon" and the studio name "Photographie Lord Byron." The series comprised images of sculptures in marble, terracotta, and bronze, reflecting the museum’s early use of photography for…

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Louise Laffon

Louise Laffon (1828–1885), was a French photographer and painter. She was one of the first female professional photographers in France. She had a studio in Paris between 1859 and 1876.

See the richer artist page