Plaster Model for Sculpture at the Palais du Louvre: La Renommée - Édouard Denis Baldus

A precise salted paper print by Édouard Denis Baldus documenting the plaster models for Georges Diébolt's sculptural reliefs at the Palais du Louvre.

This salted paper print by Édouard Denis Baldus captures the plaster models for the sculptural reliefs known as La Renommée, created by the sculptor Georges Diébolt for the Palais du Louvre in Paris. Baldus was commissioned by the French government to document the extensive renovations and expansions of the Louvre during the mid-nineteenth century. His work provides a precise record of the decorative elements integrated into the architecture of the palace.

The image presents two symmetrical figures, each depicted in a reclining pose that conforms to the spandrel shape of the intended architectural setting. The figures represent allegorical personifications of Fame, holding trumpets and laurel branches. Baldus employs a clean, objective approach to his subject matter, isolating the plaster models against a neutral background to focus on the form and texture of the sculpture. The lighting is even, allowing for a clear view of the drapery folds and the anatomical details of the figures.

Baldus was a master of the salted paper process, a technique that produces a matte surface and a soft, tonal range. This print reflects his technical precision and his ability to translate three-dimensional sculptural forms into a two-dimensional medium. The composition is balanced and orderly, reflecting the formal requirements of the architectural documentation projects he undertook for the Commission des Monuments Historiques. By isolating these models, Baldus allows the viewer to appreciate the craftsmanship of Diébolt's sculpture independent of its final placement on the building facade. This print is a record of the collaborative process between architects, sculptors, and photographers during the Second Empire in France.