Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "Boileau" door Gabriel Bernard Seurre en rechts "Fénelon" door Jean Bonnassieux c. 1855 - 1857

This photograph by Édouard Baldus showcases two plaster models, one of the French poet Nicolas Boileau and the other of the French writer and philosopher François Fénelon, which were created as preparatory works for sculptures planned for the Louvre Palace in Paris. These works were sculpted by Gabriel Seurre and Jean Bonnassieux, respectively. The photograph, taken between 1855 and 1857, captures the detail of the plaster casts, demonstrating the skill of the artists and the use of photography in the artistic process. Baldus, a pioneer in architectural photography, captured these models in a way that emphasized their sculptural qualities, making this photograph a valuable record of their artistic value.