Façade van het Palazzo Reale te Napels, Italië 1864 - 1881

This albumen silver print shows the façade of the Palazzo Reale in Naples, and was created by Giacomo Brogi in the latter half of the 19th century. Brogi was known for his documentation of Italian architecture and landscapes during a period of significant political and social change, namely the unification of Italy. Through his lens, we see the grandeur of the Palazzo, a symbol of power, but also a reminder of the deep class divisions within Italian society at the time. Consider the figures in the foreground, dwarfed by the scale of the palace, mere shadows against this imposing structure. Brogi’s work invites us to reflect on whose stories are told through architecture. The image serves not just as a record, but as an exploration of Italy’s complex relationship with its past, present, and the legacy of power. What does it mean to capture a building, a place, and inadvertently capture the socio-economic atmosphere around it?