Trevifontein te Rome, Italië c. 1870 - 1910

Ludovico Tuminello captured the Trevi Fountain in Rome with a camera, sometime in the late 19th century. The photograph presents the fountain as an imposing spectacle, emphasizing its grandeur and intricate detail. The symmetrical arrangement, punctuated by the vertical thrust of the columns, draws the eye upwards. The cascade of water is frozen in time. Notice how the monochromatic palette unifies the disparate elements—stone, water, and sculpture—into a cohesive whole. The photograph plays with light and shadow, creating depth and texture across the elaborate facade. Tuminello seems to invite us to consider how a monument functions as both a spectacle and a symbol. Consider the interplay between naturalism and artifice. The composition and tonal range guide our perception, encouraging a reading of the fountain as a constructed image rather than a purely mimetic representation. This tension between representation and construction is critical to understanding the image.