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Bas-relief 'Libations of griffons' in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Bas-relief 'Libations of griffons' in terra cotta is a 1864 photographic by Louise Laffon, a Impressionism work, 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

About this work

Louise Laffon’s terra-cotta bas-relief shows griffons pouring drinks—taken as a photograph in 1863-64. It sits between Impressionism and Realism, two styles shaking up art at the time. The Victoria and Albert Museum bought it early. In 1852 they became the first museum to collect photos, thanks to Director Henry Cole who wanted photos for artists and students. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

The story of this work

Overview

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a terra cotta bas-relief titled *Libations of griffons*, created by Louise Laffon in 1864. This photograph is part of a series of 100 albumen prints depicting sculptures and artifacts from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III in Paris. The museum acquired 500 works from Laffon’s series in 1864 through the agent Monsieur E. Cappe, with some of her original gilded mounts bearing the gender-neutral stamp "L. Laffon" and her studio name, *Photographie Lord Byron*.

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