Beeldengalerij in de Vaticaanse Musea c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph of the Vatican Museums was taken by James Anderson in the 19th century using the wet collodion process. This method involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting image, in this case of classical sculpture, is incredibly detailed, capturing the texture and form of the figures. But we should also consider the labor involved in its creation. Each photograph required meticulous preparation, execution, and immediate processing, a stark contrast to today’s instant digital photography. Anderson was part of a new kind of image economy, which democratized access to iconic artworks. It also commodified them, making images of artworks available for mass consumption. Understanding the photograph involves understanding the history of both classical sculpture, and also photographic media, production, and its broader social implications.