Sculptuur van de slapende Hermaphroditus in de Galleria Borghese c. 1880 - 1895

This photograph by Fratelli Alinari captures the marble sculpture of the Sleeping Hermaphroditus in the Galleria Borghese. This sculpture depicts a figure reclining on a mattress, draped with a cloth that partially conceals their form. The sculpture refers to the ancient Greek myth of Hermaphroditus, a figure whose very existence challenged conventional ideas about gender. Made in Rome, this photograph, like the sculpture it depicts, speaks to the enduring fascination with classical antiquity during the 19th century. Consider how the display of such works in institutions like the Galleria Borghese shaped public perceptions of beauty, gender, and sexuality during this period. The photograph allows us to examine the institutional history of the sculpture itself. Through careful archival research and consideration of the social context, we can better understand the complex and evolving meanings of works of art such as this one.