Apollo Belvedere

Photography Studio A. Luswergh e figlio Italian

1851–1855

Not on view

The Luswerghs were a family of engineers, opticians, and astronomical-instrument makers active in Rome from the time of Galileo. After visiting the photography displays at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851, Giacomo added the new medium to the firm’s pursuits. The business built and repaired cameras, and sold large-format views, portraits, and art reproductions. In 1854 they published the first commercial photography catalogue in Rome, which inventoried the 131 prints they offered for sale. Among them were reproductions of celebrated artworks from the Vatican Museums, including the Apollo Belvedere seen here, a second-century marble copy of a Greek bronze, discovered during the Renaissance. Luminous and silhouetted against an even black, the statue of the sun god is a subject befitting the light-based art of photography.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Apollo Belvedere
Photography Studio: A. Luswergh e figlio (Italian, active ca. 1851–71)
Artist: Angelo Luswergh (Italian, 1793–1858)
Artist: Giacomo Luswergh (Italian, 1819–1891)
Date: 1851–1855
Medium: Albumen silver print
Dimensions: 15 13/16 x 11 7/16
Classification: Photographs
Credit Line: Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
Object Number: 2005.100.1314
Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

By A. Luswergh e figlio

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Château de St.-Germain-en-Laye, Intérieur de la cour, Chapelle, Médéric Mieusement French, Albumen silver print from glass negative — Château de St.-Germain-en-Laye, Intérieur de la cour, Chapelle
Médéric Mieusement
1862–67

Electro–Physiologie, Figure 64, Adrien Tournachon French, Albumen silver print from glass negative — Electro–Physiologie, Figure 64
Adrien Tournachon
Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–56, printed 1862

[Construction Site], Louis Lafon French, Albumen silver print from glass negative — [Construction Site]
Louis Lafon
1880s

Julia Jackson, Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India, Albumen silver print from glass negative — Julia Jackson
Julia Margaret Cameron
1867

[Farmyard Scene], V. Dijon French, Albumen silver print from paper negative — [Farmyard Scene]
V. Dijon
1850–54

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.