Gezicht op de Tempel van Jupiter in Pompeï c. 1870 - 1900

Giorgio Sommer created this albumen print titled 'Gezicht op de Tempel van Jupiter in Pompeï' in the late 19th century. Sommer was a German photographer who established a successful studio in Naples, catering to the burgeoning tourist trade drawn to the ancient ruins of Pompeii. This photograph captures the Temple of Jupiter, a site of immense historical and cultural significance. In its time, this temple was a center of Roman religious and civic life. Sommer’s work invites contemplation on the passage of time and the transience of human endeavors. The ruins stand as silent witnesses to the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Sommer's photographs contributed to the romanticized vision of the past popular during the 19th century, inviting viewers to reflect on the grandeur of bygone eras and the ever-present forces of nature. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the ephemerality of human existence.