Gipsmodel voor beeldhouwwerk op het Palais du Louvre: "La Gloire et l'Immortalité" door Augustin Alexandre Dumont c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus created this photograph of Augustin Alexandre Dumont's plaster model for the sculpture "La Gloire et l'Immortalité" at the Palais du Louvre, sometime in the mid-19th century. This was a period of great social change and industrial advancement, which brought with it new ideas about national identity and representation. Baldus, known for his architectural photography, captures Dumont's allegorical figures of Glory and Immortality. The photograph offers an insight into the visual language used to legitimize power in 19th-century France. The female allegories, rendered in plaster, embody ideals of beauty and virtue, reinforcing traditional gender roles. The emotional resonance of this image lies in its ability to evoke a sense of timelessness and grandeur, connecting viewers to the historical narratives of French identity and national pride. The photograph invites us to consider how art can be used to shape collective memory, celebrate national achievements, and define cultural values.