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Two female figures seated on foliage ornament, bas-relief in terra cotta

Louise Laffon

1864

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Two female figures seated on foliage ornament, bas-relief in terra cotta 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 terra cotta bas-relief shows two women sitting on decorative leaves. The artist, Louise Laffon, made it between 1863 and 1864. It’s a photograph, which might sound odd for clay, but it was used like a study aid. Photography was brand-new then. The Victoria and Albert Museum started collecting photos in 1852. The director believed photos could help artists and students see things differently. The museum still holds work like this. Check out Louise Laffon.

The story of this work

Overview

A bas-relief in terra cotta by Louise Laffon from 1864 depicts two female figures seated on foliage ornament. The work was part of a series of 100 albumen photographs of sculptures, including marbles, terracottas, and bronzes, from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 prints from this series in 1864 through the agent Monsieur E. Cappe. Laffon’s photographs were originally displayed with gilded mounts 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