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Bas-relief portion of frieze with Jupiter, Mars, Juno and Minerva in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Mythology

Dominant colour

Bas-relief portion of frieze with Jupiter, Mars, Juno and Minerva 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 is a terra cotta photo relief from 1863–64. It shows Jupiter, Mars, Juno, and Minerva in a sculptural style. The piece is part of a frieze. Photography was new enough in 1863 that the artist used old-style sculpting to make it. A museum this early collected photos to help students see art up close. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to learn more.

The story of this work

Overview

A terra cotta bas-relief fragment from the Campana collection depicts Jupiter, Mars, Juno, and Minerva, photographed by Louise Laffon in 1864 as part of a series of albumen prints. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 works from this series, including this image, through the Parisian dealer Monsieur E. Cappe. Laffon’s photographs were mounted on gilded boards bearing the neutral monogram "L. Laffon" and the studio name "Photographie Lord Byron," reflecting her practice of concealing her gender. The series documented sculptures in marble, terracotta, and bronze, contributing to the…

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