Statue des Tuileries: G. Marsy et A. Flamen: Borée enlevant Orythie 1859

Charles Nègre captured this photograph of the statue "Borée enlevant Orythie" by G. Marsy and A. Flamen with a keen eye for its sculptural form. The composition invites us to consider the interplay between light, shadow, and the three-dimensional presence of the statue. The statue depicts a dynamic scene: Borée, the god of the North Wind, abducting Orythie. Nègre's lens accentuates the contrast between the smooth skin of the figures and the rough texture of the stone, highlighting the tension and drama inherent in the myth. Note the angle and viewpoint which are essential. The statue’s spiraling movement is frozen in time, yet the photograph infuses it with a sense of life. In capturing this work, Nègre prompts us to consider photography's capacity to not only document but also interpret and animate classical sculpture. This interplay between the stillness of stone and the fluidity of light challenges our understanding of form and narrative.