Majolica plate - The death of Archimedes

The plate’s painted scene illustrates the classical narrative of Archimedes being slain during the Roman siege of Syracuse, a popular motif in 19th‑century historicist decoration. By capturing this image, the photograph conveys both the artistic interest in antiquity and the didactic purpose of visualizing historical episodes for scholarly reference.

Created with the photographic processes available in the 1860s, the print reproduces the plate’s glossy ceramic surface and intricate painted details. The image balances clarity of line with the soft tonal range characteristic of early wet‑collodion work, allowing viewers to discern the composition without the glare that would affect direct observation of the object.

The photograph was taken by Louise Laffon, a French photographer and one of the first women admitted to the Société Française de la Photographie. In 1864 the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 prints from Laffon’s series through the dealer E. Cappe, adding them to the National Art Library’s holdings for use by museum staff, scholars, and students.

At the time of acquisition, the V&A was the first British institution to collect and exhibit photographs, a policy driven by founding director Henry Cole. Photographs such as this were intended to supplement traditional reproductions, extending the visual resources available for teaching art and design across the museum’s various departments.