Milano - Piazza del Duomo

  • New
Reference: S48308.1
Author Giacomo Brogi
Year: 1881 ca.
Zone: Milan
Measures: 250 x 195 mm
€250.00

  • New
Reference: S48308.1
Author Giacomo Brogi
Year: 1881 ca.
Zone: Milan
Measures: 250 x 195 mm
€250.00

Description

Albumin on paper, hand-coloured, dating back to around 1881.

Hand-retouched photograph depicting Piazza del Duomo in Milan, cataloged as an edition by the Florentine photographer and publisher Giacomo Brogi (number 4603). The period view of the famous Milanese square, with the imposing silhouette of the Duomo in the background, the entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the left and the characteristic tram tracks with passers-by in turn-of-the-century clothes. In the lower left corner the imprinted writing "4603 MILANO Piazza del Duomo" appears, while on the right "Edizioni Brogi" is visible.

In 1881 the first urban horse-drawn tramways were inaugurated on the occasion of the National Exhibition in Milan. The new and very spacious Piazza del Duomo, the heart of the city, must have seemed the ideal place to host the terminus of the new tram lines. These, starting from the center, followed a radial trend in the direction of the various gates of the city, following the city's urban planning scheme. In a short time the lines multiplied. Already in 1883 the tracks had completely invaded the square, creating a double ring around the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II and completely surrounding the church.

Giacomo Brogi (Florence, April 6, 1822 – Florence, November 29, 1881) began his career as a photographer around 1856, founding his own firm around 1864: "Edizioni Brogi Firenze," specializing in portraiture and later in fine art photography, particularly sculpture reproductions and panoramic views. He carried out several photographic campaigns throughout Italy and organized a major one in the Middle East, particularly photographing the Holy Places, for which he was awarded a silver medal by Pope Pius IX. The Brogi firm participated in the Vienna Exhibition in 1873, the Milan Exhibition in 1881, and in the Universal Exhibition in Florence in 1889, exhibiting works out of competition under the sole title of sponsorship. Upon his death, management of the business passed to his son Carlo (1850-1925), one of the founders of the Italian Photographic Society and a prominent figure in the fight for the rights of photographers, while his other son, Alfredo, took over the administration. The firm ceased operations around 1950, and a few years later the Brogi estate became part of the Alinari Archive.

Giacomo Brogi (Firenze 1822 -1881)

Giacomo Brogi (Florence, April 6, 1822 – Florence, November 29, 1881) was an Italian photographer. At the age of 11, he began working for the publisher Batelli and attended Perfetti's engraving school. Later, in 1846, the year of his marriage to Enrichetta Baldelli, he began working with the copperplate engraver Achille Paris as a retoucher. He began his career as a photographer around 1856, founding his own firm around 1864: "Edizioni Brogi Firenze", specializing in portraiture and later in fine art photography, particularly sculpture reproductions and panoramic views. He carried out several photographic campaigns throughout Italy and organized a major one in the Middle East, particularly photographing the Holy Places. For this latter work, he was awarded a silver medal by Pope Pius IX. The Brogi firm participated in the Vienna Exhibition in 1873, the Milan Exhibition in 1881, and in the Universal Exhibition in Florence in 1889, exhibiting works out of competition under the sole title of sponsorship. Upon his death, management of the business passed to his son Carlo (1850-1925), one of the founders of the Italian Photographic Society and a prominent figure in the fight for the rights of photographers, while his other son, Alfredo, took over the administration. With Carlo's death, the inheritance passed to his daughter Eugenia and her husband Laurati, who died the following year in 1926. Little is known about the period that followed; we know that in 1940, his son Giorgio Laurati attempted to revive the photographic establishment, thanks in part to the work of Gino Malenotti, then renowned for his skill in photographing statues, and to the Hungarian scholar Jenō Làny for his work on the works of Donatello, which used Malenotti's images. The firm ceased operations around 1950, and a few years later, the Brogi estate became part of the Alinari Archive.

Giacomo Brogi (Firenze 1822 -1881)

Giacomo Brogi (Florence, April 6, 1822 – Florence, November 29, 1881) was an Italian photographer. At the age of 11, he began working for the publisher Batelli and attended Perfetti's engraving school. Later, in 1846, the year of his marriage to Enrichetta Baldelli, he began working with the copperplate engraver Achille Paris as a retoucher. He began his career as a photographer around 1856, founding his own firm around 1864: "Edizioni Brogi Firenze", specializing in portraiture and later in fine art photography, particularly sculpture reproductions and panoramic views. He carried out several photographic campaigns throughout Italy and organized a major one in the Middle East, particularly photographing the Holy Places. For this latter work, he was awarded a silver medal by Pope Pius IX. The Brogi firm participated in the Vienna Exhibition in 1873, the Milan Exhibition in 1881, and in the Universal Exhibition in Florence in 1889, exhibiting works out of competition under the sole title of sponsorship. Upon his death, management of the business passed to his son Carlo (1850-1925), one of the founders of the Italian Photographic Society and a prominent figure in the fight for the rights of photographers, while his other son, Alfredo, took over the administration. With Carlo's death, the inheritance passed to his daughter Eugenia and her husband Laurati, who died the following year in 1926. Little is known about the period that followed; we know that in 1940, his son Giorgio Laurati attempted to revive the photographic establishment, thanks in part to the work of Gino Malenotti, then renowned for his skill in photographing statues, and to the Hungarian scholar Jenō Làny for his work on the works of Donatello, which used Malenotti's images. The firm ceased operations around 1950, and a few years later, the Brogi estate became part of the Alinari Archive.