Pompeii: Fountain in the House of the Balcony, ca. 1865 – 1870

About the Work

An impoverished citizen of Frankfurt became one of the most successful entrepreneurs of Naples. In 1856, the photographer Georg Sommer moved to Italy and began building what would soon be a flourishing business: his atmospheric images of the Southern Italian countryside, its inhabitants, and ancient sites were as much coveted by tourists as by those who stayed at home. His view of a Pompeiian house exudes an aura of melancholy. Remains such as the elegant putto above the fountain allude to the former riches of a past culture.