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Marble Bust of the Emperor Adrian

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Marble Bust of the Emperor Adrian 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 photograph is titled Marble Bust of the Emperor Adrian. It was taken by Louise Laffon in 1863-1864. The Victoria and Albert Museum holds this photograph, which is part of its collection that started in 1852, and was used as a resource for artists and students, showing the museum's early support for photography as a tool for learning and art, and to look further into this, check out the movement: Realism.

The story of this work

Overview

A photograph of a marble bust of the Emperor Hadrian was produced by Louise Laffon in 1864 as part of a series documenting sculptures from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III. The image was one of 500 albumen prints purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum from Laffon through an agent. The photograph was mounted on a gilded card bearing the gender-neutral signature "L. Laffon" and the studio name "Photographie Lord Byron." The series included representations of marble, terracotta, and bronze antiquities.

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