Gipsmodel voor een versiering van het Palais du Louvre c. 1855 - 1857

This is a photograph by Edouard Baldus of a plaster model, likely made in France sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a decorative element intended for the Palais du Louvre. This image speaks to the grand public role of art in 19th-century France. The Louvre, even then a powerful symbol of French culture, was undergoing significant expansion and renovation. Baldus, known for his architectural photography, here captures a detail of the ornamentation planned for this iconic building. The photograph itself becomes a document, part of the institutional process of design and construction. Understanding the social and political context of France at the time, particularly the ambitions of the Second Empire, helps us understand the image better. Accessing archives of architectural plans and official records will give further insight.