Gipsmodellen voor kariatiden op het Palais du Louvre door Astyanax Bosio c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus made this photograph of plaster models for caryatids on the Palais du Louvre in the mid-19th century. The photograph captures two caryatids, female figures used as architectural supports, embodying the classical revival style popular in France at the time. The image speaks to the ambitions of Napoleon III to transform Paris into a modern imperial capital, using classical forms to evoke the grandeur of past empires. The Louvre, as a key symbol of French culture and power, became a focal point for this architectural and artistic program. Baldus, as a photographer, played a vital role in documenting and promoting these state-sponsored projects. To understand this image, researchers might explore archives of the Louvre, along with Baldus’ commissions. The photograph is a lens through which we can study the intersection of art, politics, and national identity in 19th-century France.