Artwork

Bas-relief portion of a frieze of Satyrs treading the wine press in terra cotta

Bas-relief portion of a frieze of Satyrs treading the wine press 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. The image is a black‑and‑white photograph taken around 1863–1864 that records a fragment of a terra‑cotta bas‑relief.

About this work

This is a photograph from 1863-1864. It's titled Bas-relief portion of a frieze of Satyrs treading the wine press in terra cotta.

The photograph is part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum has a long history of collecting photographs, starting from 1852.

To learn more about the style of this photograph, look up the movement: Realism.

Overview

The image is a black‑and‑white photograph taken around 1863–1864 that records a fragment of a terra‑cotta bas‑relief. The relief depicts a group of satyrs engaged in the act of treading grapes within a wine press, forming part of a larger decorative frieze.

Subject & Meaning

The relief illustrates mythological figures—satyrs, half‑human, half‑goat creatures associated with Dionysian rites—caught in the labor of winemaking. Their dynamic poses and interaction convey themes of rustic labor, festivity, and the ancient celebration of wine as a cultural and religious symbol.

Technique & Style

Captured in the realist photographic tradition of the mid‑nineteenth century, the image emphasizes precise detail and tonal contrast, rendering the texture of the terra‑cotta surface and the depth of the carving with clarity. The straightforward, documentary approach reflects the period’s interest in faithful visual records of artworks.

History & Provenance

The photograph was produced by French photographer Louise Laffon, a member of the Société Française de la Photographie, as part of a series documenting objects from the Campana Collection at the Musée Napoléon III. In 1864 the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired 500 prints from this series through the dealer Monsieur E. Cappe, integrating them into its National Art Library holdings.

Context

The V&A began collecting photographs in 1852 and exhibited them by 1858, recognizing photography’s utility for education and research. Laffon’s work exemplifies the museum’s early reliance on external photographers, particularly women, to expand its visual resources for scholars, students, and curatorial staff.

Artist & collection

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.