Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "Philippe de Commines" door Eugène Louis Lequesne en rechts "Amyot" door Pierre Travaux c. 1855 - 1857

This photograph by Edouard Baldus, taken between 1855 and 1857, depicts plaster models for sculptures planned for the Palais du Louvre. The left model, sculpted by Eugène Louis Lequesne, portrays Philippe de Commines, a French historian and diplomat. The right model, sculpted by Pierre Travaux, features Jacques Amyot, a French scholar and translator. The crisp detail and stark lighting of Baldus's photograph, characteristic of his work, highlights the delicate artistry of the plaster models, capturing their intricacies for posterity. The image provides a glimpse into the preparatory stages of monumental sculpture, offering insights into the creative process behind the Louvre's decorative program.