Rome_ Fishermen on the Tiber near the Castel Sant’Angelo c. 1860

Gioacchino Altobelli made this albumen print of Rome, showing fishermen on the Tiber near the Castel Sant’Angelo, sometime in the mid-19th century. In this period, photography was still a relatively new medium, often used to document landscapes and cityscapes with a sense of scientific precision. But the choice of subject also speaks to a rising interest in the lives of ordinary people. Here, the fishermen are shown in their daily work, framed by the iconic architecture of Rome, including the Castel Sant'Angelo, originally a Roman mausoleum, later a papal fortress. The image reflects a wider European fascination with Italy as a site of both classical history and contemporary life. The composition, with its picturesque arrangement of figures and buildings, suggests an awareness of artistic traditions, while the photographic medium hints at a desire for objective documentation. To fully understand this photograph, we can delve into the history of photography, 19th-century tourism, and the social dynamics of Rome during this period. Only then can we grasp its significance as a cultural artifact, shaped by specific historical forces.