Pompei_ Anfiteatro, No. 5076 c. 1870 - 1880

Giacomo Brogi created this albumen print of the Amphitheater of Pompeii in the late 19th century. The image captures the ancient structure with Mount Vesuvius looming in the background, a silent witness to history. Brogi was part of a wave of photographers who documented Italy's archaeological sites during a period of intense national interest in rediscovering and preserving its Roman past. Photography was a powerful tool in shaping public perception of these sites, both for scientific and for touristic purposes. This image creates meaning through its stark depiction of the arena, and the awareness of the terrible events that took place in Pompeii and the subsequent rediscovery of the city that captured the imagination of 19th century Europe. Historians use photographs like these, alongside archaeological reports, guidebooks, and travel accounts, to understand the evolving relationship between the past and the present.