Gezicht op het Palazzo Doria d'Angri in de Via Toledo in Napels c. 1860 - 1880

This stereograph of the Palazzo Doria d'Angri in Naples was created by Roberto Rive around the mid-19th century, a time when Naples was undergoing significant urban and social transformations. Rive’s choice to capture this palace reflects the complex relationship between aristocracy and urban space. The Palazzo, a symbol of noble power, is presented amidst the bustle of the Via Toledo, a street that was then a melting pot of social classes. The photograph hints at the economic disparities of the time, placing aristocratic grandeur against the backdrop of everyday Neapolitan life. Consider how Rive frames the Palazzo, not as an isolated monument, but as part of a living, breathing city. The presence of carriages and figures in the foreground suggests the interactions between different social strata in Naples. Rive’s photograph invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in urban spaces and the ways in which photography can both reveal and conceal the complexities of social life.