Gezicht op de pyramide van Cestius te Rome c. 1857 - 1875

Gustave Eugène Chauffourier made this photograph of the Pyramid of Cestius in Rome. The Pyramid of Cestius, an ancient Roman tomb, appears here as part of a composed view of the city. What is interesting, though, is that we find it surrounded by a graveyard. It is located near the Protestant Cemetery, also known as the Cimitero degli Inglesi, where the poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley are buried. Photography in the 19th century became an important means by which cultural institutions and travel companies cataloged world heritage sites. The image creates meaning through cultural references and historical associations, feeding into a Northern European tradition of interest in, and idealization of, Classical culture. The way the tomb is placed within the urban landscape shows us how ancient relics were being absorbed into the fabric of a changing world. To fully appreciate this photograph, understanding the institutional framework around archaeological exploration, tourism, and photography is essential.