Accession Number
1998/1.146

Title
Napoli

Artist(s)
Giorgio Sommer

Artist Nationality
Italian (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1866-1891

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
7 5/8 in x 10 in (19.37 cm x 25.4 cm);16 in x 20 in (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Margaret and Howard Bond


Subject matter
This photograph depicts a view of a street scene in the Italian city of Naples. Filling the entirety of the frame, the buildings’ façades on the opposite side of the street face the photographer head-on. While cracked with age, the elegance of the buildings’ tall windows and wide porticos and terraces shine through their decay. The windows at the center of the photograph are festooned with lines of white laundry, the hanging clothing and sheets adorning the building’s façade like festive banners. In the left corner of the frame hangs the awning of a watch shop. Passing before the buildings wheeling carts and wares, the forms of pedestrians and laborers are slightly blurred from the camera’s long exposure, rendering them shadowy and apparition-like.   

Physical Description
This photograph depicts a view of a street scene in Naples, Italy. Hanging from the terraces of an old, elegant building are lines of laundry. In the street below are carts, pedestrians, and laborers.  

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Figures
Italy
Neapolitan (culture or style)
South Italian (Italian culture or style)
Urban life
apartments
balcony
buildings
clothing
façades
groups
historic buildings
laundry
motion
pedestrians
street scenes
streets
walking
wind
window