Latonavijver in de Tuin van Versailles c. 1865 - 1875

This photograph depicts the Latona Fountain in the Gardens of Versailles, taken by the Compagnie Photographique Debitte & Hervé. The gardens of Versailles were originally commissioned by Louis XIV in the 17th century as a display of royal power, wealth and control over nature. The Latona fountain, which you see here, is a key feature of the garden's design. The statue of Latona symbolizes the king's mother, Anne of Austria. The photograph captures the fountain in a formal, symmetrical composition which echoes the garden's overall design, reflecting the social hierarchies and aesthetic preferences of the time. Photography at this time was associated with documentation and objectivity, yet here it is used to further promote Versailles as a symbol of French cultural and political authority. By studying sources such as royal inventories and landscape designs, we can better understand the social conditions that led to the creation of places like Versailles and their role in shaping national identity.