Buste van Matidia before 1879

This photograph by Giorgio Sommer, taken before 1879, depicts a marble bust of Matidia, a Roman noblewoman who was the niece of the emperor Trajan. The bust, which is now in the Rijksmuseum, showcases Matidia's serene expression, her head covered in a traditional Roman headdress, and the detailed carving of her drapery. Sommer's work is a prime example of 19th-century photographic documentation of classical artifacts, which helped bring ancient Roman culture to a broader audience.