Sculptural Frieze by Cavelier, Minerva Surrounded by the Muses of the Arts c. 1868

This cyanotype photograph, taken by Adolphe Terris in 1868, shows a sculptural frieze of Minerva surrounded by the Muses of the Arts. The photograph is a rare example of a cyanotype print, a photographic process invented in 1842 that uses light-sensitive iron salts to create a blue image. Terris, a prolific French photographer who specialized in architectural and sculptural subjects, captured the frieze in its unfinished state, resting on sawhorses. The image offers a glimpse into the creative process of a 19th-century sculptor, as well as a testament to Terris's artistic vision.