Pietro Magni, The Reading Girl c. 1862

Here is a stereoscopic image of Pietro Magni's sculpture, "The Reading Girl," taken by Roger Fenton. The photograph, exhibited in 1862, offers a glimpse into Victorian society's idealized vision of women and knowledge. The girl, draped in classical robes, sits with a book. Her bare feet and downcast gaze suggest humility, qualities considered virtuous for women at the time. While literacy was becoming more widespread, the image subtly reinforces the idea of women's education as a means of personal refinement rather than professional advancement. The sculpture’s marble whiteness and the photographic sepia tones speak to the cultural construction of purity. Fenton’s choice to capture this artwork through the lens of photography adds another layer, democratizing access to art but also framing it within the conventions of photographic portraiture. This image invites us to reflect on the historical limitations placed on women's intellectual pursuits, and how art and photography played a role in shaping those perceptions.