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Bas-relief portion of frieze with mask of Satyr 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 frieze with mask of Satyr 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 work is a terra cotta bas-relief mask of a Satyr in photo form from 1863–64. It’s part of a frieze, so think long wall decoration with low-lying figures. The V&A started collecting photos in 1852 and was the first museum to show them publicly. Louise Laffon, one of the overlooked women in early photography, made this piece. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

The story of this work

Overview

A bas-relief portion of a frieze featuring a mask of a Satyr in terra cotta was photographed by Louise Laffon in 1864 as part of a series of albumen prints depicting sculptures from the Campana Collection. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 works from this series, including this photograph, through the agent Monsieur E. Cappe. Laffon’s images were originally presented on gilded mounts bearing the gender-neutral stamp "L. Laffon" and the studio name "Photographie Lord Byron." The series included representations of various ancient sculptures in marble, terracotta, and bronze.

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