Ruiterstandbeeld van Marcus Aurelius op het Piazza del Campidoglio te Rome 1902

This photograph captures the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome. The photographer is unknown. Just imagine them, setting up their stereo camera, hoping to capture the depth and grandeur of the scene. The statue itself seems to be caught mid-stride, one hoof raised in a gesture of authority. The photographer frames the architectural details of the Piazza: the balustrades, stairways and windows. I imagine that the photographer must have been thinking about history, about power, and about the relationship between the individual and the state. How do you frame an emperor? How can an image capture a feeling of strength? Looking at it now, I like to think about how we can make a statement, or capture a single moment in time. This photographer sought to fix and preserve a particular perception of authority. The image becomes a site of inquiry, inviting us to consider the layers of history.