Marble bust of Virgil

The subject is a classical Roman bust of Virgil, author of the Aeneid, revered in Western literary tradition. The photograph does not interpret the bust symbolically but serves as a documentary record, preserving its form and detail for study. Its inclusion in the museum’s collection reflects the institutional emphasis on visual resources for art education, prioritizing accuracy over artistic expression.

Laffon employed the wet collodion process, common in mid-19th-century photographic practice, to produce a sharp, tonally nuanced image. The composition is straightforward, with the bust centered and lit to emphasize sculptural volume and surface texture. No embellishments or staging are present, aligning with the photograph’s utilitarian purpose within an academic context.

The photograph was part of a set of 500 images Laffon made of the Campana Collection in Paris, which was later dispersed. In 1864, the V&A acquired these through E. Cappe, an agent in Paris. Laffon, one of the earliest recognized female photographers in France, contributed to the museum’s growing visual archive, which was then housed within the National Art Library and used by staff and students alike.

At the time, the V&A was pioneering the use of photography in museums, viewing it as a tool to expand access to artworks beyond physical presence. While male photographers dominated the field, Laffon’s involvement highlights the quiet but significant role women played in institutional photographic work. Her images supported scholarly study at a time when direct access to continental antiquities was limited for British students.

Laffon’s photographs, including this one, remain part of the V&A’s historical archive, representing early efforts to systematize visual documentation in art education. Though her name was long overlooked, her work exemplifies the collaborative, international networks that underpinned museum collections in the 19th century. These images continue to serve as primary records of artifacts now dispersed or altered.