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Bas-relief portion of frieze with the 'Libation of Asiatic Sphinx' 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 the 'Libation of Asiatic Sphinx' 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

The title of this work is 'Bas-relief portion of frieze with the 'Libation of Asiatic Sphinx' in terra cotta'. This photograph was taken by Louise Laffon in 1863-1864. It's part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which has a long history of collecting photographs. To learn more about the style of this photograph, look into the movement of Realism.

The story of this work

Overview

A terra cotta bas-relief fragment depicting the "Libation of Asiatic Sphinx" was photographed by Louise Laffon in 1864 as part of a series of albumen prints documenting sculptures from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 works from this series through the Parisian agent Monsieur E. Cappe. Laffon’s photographs were mounted with a gender-neutral stamp reading "L. Laffon" and the studio name "Photographie Lord Byron," reflecting her practice of concealing her identity in professional contexts. The surviving gilded mounts highlight 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