Artwork

Marble Statue of Seneca

Marble Statue of Seneca, by Louise Laffon, photographic, 1864
Marble Statue of Seneca, by Louise Laffon, photographic, 1864

Marble Statue of Seneca 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.

About this work

The Marble Statue of Seneca is a photograph taken by Louise Laffon. It's a work from 1863-1864.

The Victoria and Albert Museum has a long history of collecting photographs, starting from 1852. They were used to help artists and students, and were seen as a way to expand the resources available.

You can learn more about the movement that influenced this work by looking up Realism.

Overview

The Marble Statue of Seneca is a photographic work created by Louise Laffon between 1863 and 1864. It is part of a series of photographs she produced documenting objects from the Campana Collection in the Musée Napoléon III, Paris.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph depicts a marble statue of Seneca, a Roman statesman and philosopher. The image's primary purpose was educational, aiming to provide artists and students with detailed visual references for study.

Technique & Style

Laffon's photograph exemplifies the Realist movement's emphasis on accurate representation. The image's clarity and attention to detail reflect the technical proficiency and documentary intent characteristic of mid-19th-century photographic practices.

History & Provenance

The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired this photograph in 1864 as part of a bulk purchase of 500 works from Laffon's Campana Collection series, facilitated by agent Monsieur E. Cappe.

Context

The photograph is set against the backdrop of the V&A's pioneering efforts in collecting and exhibiting photography from 1852 onwards, driven by Director Henry Cole's vision for photography's educational potential.

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.