Pompeii_ Fountain in the House of the Balcony by Sommer & Behles

Pompeii_ Fountain in the House of the Balcony c. 1865 - 1870

cardboard, albumen-print, paper, architecture

cardboard

albumen-print

pencil drawn

photo of handprinted image

aged paper

light pencil work

16_19th-century

photo restoration

ink paper printed

pencil sketch

paper

personal sketchbook

child

watercolour illustration

italy

watercolor

architecture

building

This photograph by Sommer & Behles from the late 19th century captures a fountain in the House of the Balcony, a Pompeii excavation site. The image showcases a simple, yet elegant stone fountain with a small basin situated in a courtyard. It stands amidst the ruins, a testament to the grandeur and sophistication of Roman domestic life. The image is a valuable archival resource that offers a glimpse into the Pompeii excavations and the remnants of ancient Roman architecture. Pompeii, fountain, Roman, excavations, architecture, Sommer & Behles, 19th century.

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stadelmuseum over 1 year ago

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An impoverished citizen of Frankfurt became one of the most successful entrepreneurs of Naples. In 1856, the photographer Georg Sommer moved to Italy and began building what would soon be a flourishing business: his atmospheric images of the Southern Italian countryside, its inhabitants, and ancient sites were as much coveted by tourists as by those who stayed at home. His view of a Pompeiian house exudes an aura of melancholy. Remains such as the elegant putto above the fountain allude to the former riches of a past culture.