Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi aan het Canal Grande in Venetië 1860 - 1881

Carlo Ponti made this albumen print of the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi on the Grand Canal in Venice sometime in the late 19th century. Venice, by this time, was deeply implicated in the rise of tourism. Ponti’s photograph emphasizes the historical grandeur of Venice through its architectural landmarks. Built in the early 16th century, the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi embodies the wealth and power of the Venetian elite. The photograph aestheticizes Venice as a monument to the past, a move that caters to and reinforces the expectations of tourists seeking an encounter with history. Ponti presents us with a depopulated, timeless view, seemingly untouched by modernity. Historians might look into travelogues, guidebooks, and early tourist photography to further understand the cultural construction of Venice as a romantic destination and the role images played in shaping this perception. We can consider how the rise of photography contributed to the commodification of culture and the transformation of cities like Venice into stages for tourist consumption.