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Marble Sarcophagus showing the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Marble Sarcophagus showing the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus 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 photo shows a marble sarcophagus carved with the myth of Phaedra and Hippolytus. Made in 1863–64, it mixes Impressionist and Realist ideas. The museum used it to teach artists and students early on. Louise Laffon brought a fresh eye to classical stories. The V&A has collected photos since 1852, using them for training. Today, her work helps us see photography’s role in art history. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

A photograph by Louise Laffon from 1864 depicts a marble sarcophagus illustrating the mythological story of Phaedra and Hippolytus. The image is one of a series of 100 albumen prints Laffon produced of sculptures and antiquities from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III in Paris. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 works from this series through an agent in 1864. Some of Laffon’s original gilded mounts survive, bearing the gender-neutral stamp "L. Laffon" and the studio 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