Marble statue of a Naïade

The photograph is an example of mid-19th-century photographic techniques, specifically gilded prints, used here to document sculpture, showcasing the medium's role in art reproduction.

Acquired by the V&A in 1864 as part of a 500-piece purchase from Louise Laffon, a female photographer and third member of Le Société Française de la Photographie, through agent Monsieur E. Cappe, originally documenting the Campana Collection in Paris.

Part of the V&A's pioneering photography collection, initiated in 1852, this work highlights the museum's visionary use of photography and the overlooked contributions of female photographers like Laffon in its early history.