Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: "La Renommée" door Auguste Poitevin c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus made this photograph of plaster models for sculptures at the Louvre, including "La Renommée" by Auguste Poitevin, sometime in the mid-19th century. Baldus was commissioned to document the renovation of the Louvre, and this image captures not just the art but also the process behind it. It allows us to think about the role of the artist in 19th-century France, a time of great social and political change. The sculptures themselves, often depicting allegorical figures like "Renommée" or fame, were deeply embedded in the cultural and political ideologies of the time. The image is charged with the weight of history, and offers a glimpse into how national identity was being shaped through art and architecture. It invites us to consider the stories that public art tells, and the values it upholds.