View of the Vesuvius eruption April 26, 1872, 1872
Albumen print
Image dimensions18 × 24 cm
About the workVesuvius’ unpredictable energy is what makes it so fascinating. This was already the case in 1872, when Giorgio Sommer captured an eruption of the volcano from Naples with his plate camera. Since he had to change the photosensitive material in the camera each time, he could only take one picture every half hour. His photographs enabled the observer to relive the spectacle and consequently became bestsellers. In some ways, this image prefigures what is now referred to as “reportage photography”.
AccessionAcquisition 2020
Provenance[...]; 1.7.2020 angekauft von der Galerie Gerda Bassenge
Inventory numberF.2020.3118
