Afgietsel van een slachtoffer van de uitbarsting van de Vesuvius in het Antiquarium te Pompeï 1864 - 1881

This photograph, by Giacomo Brogi, captures a plaster cast of a victim of Mount Vesuvius' eruption, housed in Pompeii's Antiquarium. The image speaks to the 19th-century fascination with antiquity and the rise of archaeology as a public spectacle. Pompeii, once rediscovered, became a site of both scientific study and morbid curiosity. Brogi's photograph is not just a record; it's a carefully constructed image meant for public consumption. Notice how the body is presented within a glass case, like a museum display, inviting viewers to contemplate mortality and the power of nature. This image prompts us to ask: How do we, as a society, deal with the display of human remains? What ethical considerations should guide archaeological practices and museum exhibitions? Understanding the social context in which this photograph was created allows us to reflect on our relationship with the past and the ways in which institutions shape our understanding of history. By consulting historical archives, museum records, and contemporary accounts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of this image.