Gipsmodel voor beeldhouwwerk op het Palais du Louvre: "L'alliance de l'Art antique et de la Renaissance" door Jean Bonnassieux c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus created this albumen silver print of the “Gipsmodel voor beeldhouwwerk op het Palais du Louvre: "L'alliance de l'Art antique et de la Renaissance" by Jean Bonnassieux. The photograph captures a plaster model featuring two winged figures connected by a circular frame, evoking a sense of classical harmony and balance. The composition is symmetrical; each figure is poised, creating an equilibrium that emphasizes the union of different artistic periods. Baldus’s careful attention to the textural qualities of the plaster model highlights the tangible nature of the artwork, drawing attention to the materiality of sculpture. Through a semiotic lens, the photograph becomes more than just a visual record; it signifies the allegorical relationship between ancient and Renaissance art. The circular frame can be interpreted as a symbol of unity, suggesting that artistic progress is built upon the foundations of the past. The photograph invites us to consider how classical forms are continually reinterpreted and revitalized across different cultural and historical contexts.