Façade van het Ca' d'Oro aan het Canal Grande te Venetië 1877

Carlo Naya produced this photograph of the Ca' d'Oro in Venice using the wet collodion process some time in the mid-19th century. The image captures the palace's ornate gothic facade, reflecting in the canal, a symbol of Venice's unique relationship with water. Venice in the 1800s was caught between its fading glory as a maritime power and its emerging role as a tourist destination. Photography played a crucial role in this transition. Naya and his contemporaries catered to the growing demand for picturesque views, framing Venice as a living museum. This image, while seemingly objective, participates in constructing a narrative of Venice as a romantic, timeless city, ripe for consumption by wealthy travelers. Understanding this photograph requires us to consider the historical context of 19th-century tourism, the rise of photography as a commercial enterprise, and the ways in which Venice was being reshaped to fit a particular image. Archives, travel guides, and contemporary accounts offer valuable insights into the social and economic forces at play in shaping both the city and its representation.