Beccari-grafmonument op de begraafplaats van Staglieno in Genua c. 1870 - 1900

This photograph captures Alfredo Noack’s documentation of the Beccari monument located in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa. Noack, active in the latter half of the 19th century, operated during a time of significant change in Italy, marked by political unification and social upheaval. This image exists within a broader context of memorial art that often served to reinforce societal values and class structures through its representations of grief and commemoration. Consider the symbolism embedded within funerary sculpture and photography of the era. What do these angels, children, and grieving figures tell us about the values that were esteemed at the time? Notice also how the documentation of funerary art invites a deeper contemplation on mortality. How do you feel looking at this image?