Victor Emmanuel 1860s

This 19th-century carte de visite, dating to the 1860s, is an anonymous portrait of Victor Emmanuel II, the first King of a unified Italy. The image depicts Victor Emmanuel in a formal military uniform, his stance and expression conveying a sense of authority and power. The carte de visite format was popular in the mid-19th century for exchanging personal portraits, and this example, now part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, provides a glimpse into a pivotal moment in Italian history.