Mid-nineteenth century Paris was a city in the midst of modernisation, and as such, was ripe for documentation of its changing landscape. Counted as one of the premier photographers of his day, Edouard Baldus captured the aesthetic of the Second Empire's ideology in his monumental views of both old and new Parisian landmarks.

Due to the strength of his architectural imagery and work with the Mission heliographique, Baldus would go on to gain

the support of a government commission, Les Villes de France Photographies, which focused on the landmarks of Paris

in particular, such as les Invalides. Similar in style to the frontal views of the Louvre pavilions, it is no surprise that this

particular image was taken around the same time.


Les Invalides is a group of buildings in the Seventh Arrondissement of Paris. It contains museums and monuments all related to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, which are part of

the original foundation and purpose of the structure. Also included are the Musee de l'Armee, the military museum of

the Army of France, the Musee des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musee d'Histoire Contemporaine. Most notably, it is the burial site for Napoleon I among other war heroes.


Alternative views and later prints of this view exist in the collection of the Musee d'Orsay.