Salon van Mercurius in het kasteel van Saint-Cloud before 1870

Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy captured the Salon van Mercurius in the kasteel van Saint-Cloud, using photography. The architecture provides a rigid framework of straight lines and right angles which contrast with the organic shapes within the murals. These large artworks dominate the space, depicting scenes with dynamic figures that introduce movement and narrative. The composition emphasizes balance and symmetry which are enhanced by the mirroring effect of the stereoscopic presentation. The image flattens the three-dimensional space into a series of planes. This challenges traditional perspective, inviting reflection on the nature of representation itself. The interplay between real space and pictorial space blurs the boundaries between the viewer and the viewed. The photograph itself becomes a sign, pointing not just to the physical space of the Salon but also to the broader cultural and political context of the time. Through its composition, Lamy's work encourages us to decode the relationship between power, representation, and perception in 19th-century France.