Sculptuur van Niobe in de Galleria degli Uffizi te Florence c. 1860 - 1890

Giacomo Brogi created this stereoscopic image of the sculpture of Niobe in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Brogi was active in Florence during a period of profound social change as Italy moved towards unification. This image freezes a moment of maternal agony. Niobe, a figure from Greek mythology, weeps over her children, who were murdered by Apollo and Artemis. This narrative of loss and lament gains added dimensions when viewed through the lens of 19th-century ideas about women. Niobe embodies the era’s expectations of women as primarily mothers. Her profound sorrow reminds us of how women were often defined by their reproductive capabilities, and their identities were often tied to the well-being of their children. Consider, too, how the image was to be viewed. Stereoscopic images were popular forms of entertainment in the 19th century and were commonly viewed in the domestic sphere. Brogi’s photograph invites us to reflect on the construction of gender, loss, and identity in the 19th century.