Graftombes in het Camposanto te Pisa c. 1850 - 1870

This stereoscopic photograph of the Graftombes in het Camposanto te Pisa was made by Giovanni Brampton Philpot sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph depicts a series of elaborate tomb monuments within the Camposanto, a historic monumental cemetery in Pisa, Italy. Photographs like this one were popular at the time and offered viewers at home the chance to see the architectural wonders and artworks of Italy. We should consider it an example of the democratization of access to art, even if its middle-class audiences were limited. The sepia tone and stereoscopic format add to the image's sense of history and depth. It's a reminder of the cultural fascination with death and remembrance during the Victorian era. To better understand this image, one could research the history of photography in Italy, the cultural significance of cemeteries, and the Victorian fascination with death and mourning. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.