Milan: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, ca. 1868 – 1873

About the Work

The shopping mall erected in Milan between 1865 and 1867 inspired praise from the author of Baedeker’s Handbook for Travellers (1870): “Among Europe’s glass arcades, this is the most beautiful and magnificent by far.” Giorgio Sommer captured the prestigious edifice in a single shot. On the one hand the angle of view emphasizes the longitudinal axis connecting the Piazza della Scala and the Piazza del Duomo. On the other hand, the choice of a vantage point to the left of the centre enables the onlooker to appreciate the richly ornamented arcades. Sommer moreover made use of the light entering from above to bring out the delicate structure of the architecture.