Gotische ramen van het Palazzo Montalto te Syracuse, Sicilië 1857 - 1914

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph of Gothic windows at the Palazzo Montalto in Syracuse, Sicily, sometime in the late 19th century. Sommer, originally from Germany, operated a successful photography studio in Italy, catering to tourists eager to capture the country's architectural and artistic treasures. This image, created using the wet collodion process, was a popular method at the time known for its detail and tonal range. The process involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The photograph's strength lies in its ability to reveal the textures of the stone, its weathered surfaces, and the intricate carvings around the windows. Note how Sommer has framed the shot, so we can see the repetitive patterns and decorations which speak to the skilled labor involved in the original construction. Sommer's photograph allows us to appreciate the craftsmanship embedded in the Palazzo Montalto's Gothic windows. It is a reminder that photography, like other forms of making, relies on both technical skill and artistic vision to translate the world around us into lasting images.