Artwork
Bas-relief of two figures of Neptune in terra cotta
Bas-relief of two figures of Neptune in terra cotta is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Louise Laffon. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s history.
About this work
The piece fits between Impressionism and Realism, two styles that were mixing at the time.
Louise Laffon made a terra cotta bas-relief of two Neptune figures in 1863–64. It’s a photograph, not a clay carving, even though it looks like one. The piece fits between Impressionism and Realism, two styles that were mixing at the time.
It’s held at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This museum started collecting photographs back in 1852—way ahead of most places. Henry Cole, its first director, believed photos could help artists learn faster.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
A terra cotta bas-relief depicting two figures of Neptune was created by the photographer Louise Laffon in 1864. The work is one of 500 albumen prints purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum from Laffon, documenting objects from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III in Paris. The prints were intended for educational use by artists and students, supplementing the museum's visual resources. Laffon's photographs were mounted with a gender-neutral stamp, reflecting her practice of concealing her identity as a female photographer.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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