Open full image Pin

Bas-relief portion of a frieze of honeysuckle in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Bas-relief portion of a frieze of honeysuckle 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

This photo shows a small clay relief of honeysuckle from 1863–64. The artist made it during the early years when the Victoria and Albert Museum first collected photographs. This work was overlooked for years because many early female artists got less attention. It’s a tiny slice of art history that helps us see how photography grew alongside museums. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

A bas-relief portion of a frieze depicting honeysuckle, executed in terra cotta, was created by Louise Laffon in 1864. The photograph of this work was part of a series of 100 albumen prints produced by Laffon, featuring sculptures and decorative objects from the Campana Collection housed in the Musée Napoléon III in Paris. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 works from this series in 1864 through the agent Monsieur E. Cappe. Some of Laffon's original gilded mounts, bearing the gender-neutral stamp 'L. Laffon' and the studio name 'Photographie Lord Byron,' remain preserved.

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