Catacomben van de Capucijnen te Palermo, Italië 1857 - 1914

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph of the Catacombs of the Capuchin Monastery in Palermo, Italy, sometime in the mid-19th century. It shows a long corridor filled with open coffins and mummified bodies of monks and wealthy citizens, some still dressed in their finest clothes. The catacombs offer a glimpse into Sicilian attitudes toward death and the afterlife during this period. The Capuchin monks, a branch of the Franciscan order, began mummifying their dead in the 16th century as a way to preserve them for posterity. Over time, the catacombs became a status symbol, as wealthy families paid to have their loved ones interred there. The photograph documents the intersection of religious practice, social class, and death rituals. As art historians, we rely on sources such as historical documents, religious texts, and social histories to interpret this photograph and the cultural context in which it was made. By doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, society, and belief.