4013 - Baldus, Édouard

Baldus, Édouard Plaster models and ornamental sculpture for the Nouveau Louvre (Réunion des Tuileries au Louvre). 1855–57. 6 salted paper prints, mounted on original sheets. Varying sizes (mounts 31 x 45.5 cm). Numbered “793,” “836,” “851,” and “859” on the negatives. Baldus created this systematic photographic survey for Hector-Martin Lefuel’s ambitious project to unite the Louvre and Tuileries palaces. The group includes studies of sculptural models, reliefs, decorative panels, and a pediment; no. 859 depicts Claude Leprêtre’s *La Paix*. – Mounts show general discoloration from age, scattered foxing, handling creases, and some planar distortion; there are small edge tears and losses, most notably on the first mount and the mount containing the two vertical relief studies; the first mount also has a diagonal crease in the upper right corner; the prints are generally clear and well preserved, and overall in good condition.