Gipsmodellen voor versieringen van het Palais du Louvre: links door Jules Lafrance, midden door Pierre Edouard Charrier, rechts onbekend c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus created this photograph of plaster models for the decoration of the Palais du Louvre sometime in the mid-19th century. Baldus, a master of photography, captured these architectural details in a period of significant transformation in Paris. During the 19th century, Paris underwent massive urban renewal projects, led by Baron Haussmann, which reshaped the city's landscape. The Louvre, as a symbol of French power and culture, received considerable attention, as these plaster models exemplify. Baldus’s photographs served as documentation, capturing the ornate designs envisioned for the palace. The photograph itself highlights the intersection of art, architecture, and state power. The photograph allows us to reflect on the role of ornamentation in conveying cultural identity and the ways in which architectural decisions mirror societal values. These decorative elements, rendered in exquisite detail, remind us of the dialogue between tradition and innovation and the enduring human desire to shape our environments with beauty and meaning.