Photo reproduction of (presumably) a print after a mural in Pompeii, depicting Actaeon and Diana 1860

This is a photograph by Roberto Rive, likely made in the mid-19th century, of what appears to be a print of a mural from Pompeii, depicting the myth of Actaeon and Diana. It speaks to the 19th century's fascination with antiquity. The original mural, of course, would have been made in Pompeii before the city's destruction in 79 AD. The story goes that Actaeon, a hunter, stumbled upon the goddess Diana bathing. As punishment for seeing her naked, Diana transformed Actaeon into a stag, and he was then hunted down and killed by his own hounds. Roman mural paintings such as the original would likely have served to adorn the houses of wealthy citizens. They served a decorative purpose, but also reflected the owner’s knowledge of classical mythology and their access to the finer things in life. To understand this image better, we might want to research not only the original murals of Pompeii, but also the ways in which photography became a key tool for preserving and disseminating images of classical art in the 19th century. The meaning of art is always bound up with its social and institutional context.