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Fighting Warrior, bas-relief in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Heracles

Dominant colour

Fighting Warrior, bas-relief in terra cotta is a 1864 photographic by Louise Laffon, a Impressionism work, depicting Heracles, 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 bas-relief titled *Fighting Warrior* made in 1863–64. It shows Heracles in a photograph by Louise Laffon, a French photographer. The work mixes Impressionism and Realism. The Victoria and Albert Museum began collecting photographs in 1852. They were the first museum to do so. This piece was overlooked for years despite its early date. Look up the artist next: Laffon, Louise.

The story of this work

Overview

A terra cotta bas-relief titled *Fighting Warrior*, created by Louise Laffon in 1864, depicts a warrior in combat. The work was part of a series of 100 albumen photographs documenting sculptures from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III in Paris. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 prints from Laffon’s series, including this piece, through an agent in 1864. Surviving gilded mounts bear the gender-neutral stamp "L. Laffon" alongside her studio’s 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