Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: "La Navigation" door Alexandre Lequien c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus made this photograph of Alexandre Lequien's plaster models for sculptures at the Palais du Louvre sometime in the 19th century. The image reflects the artistic and cultural values of its time, particularly concerning the role of public art and national identity. France's national museum, the Louvre, was subject to many architectural and artistic interventions, especially during the Second Empire. Baldus' photograph captures plaster models, likely part of a larger decorative program intended to glorify France and its history. Note the classical allegorical figures, recalling ancient Greece and Rome, linking France to a prestigious artistic lineage. The photograph implies a self-conscious and conservative approach to art. By documenting these models, Baldus participates in constructing a visual record of French artistic heritage and the institutional history of the Louvre. Understanding the historical context enriches our appreciation of this photograph. Researching the political and cultural climate of 19th-century France, the history of the Louvre, and the careers of Baldus and Lequien can shed further light on its meaning. Ultimately, this artwork reminds us that art is a product of its time, shaped by social forces and institutional structures.