Monument voor Tomaso Serra op de begraafplaats van Staglieno in Genua c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph by Alfredo Noack captures the monument to Tomaso Serra in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa. The material of primary importance here is marble – both the Carrara marble of the sculpture itself, and the photographic paper which Noack has carefully manipulated. The monument depicts a Capuchin friar absorbed in reading, a poignant study in grief. The ability to convincingly render stone into lifelike form is a testament to the sculptor’s skill, but Noack’s photograph adds another layer. Photographs like this were a popular form of reproduction in the late 19th century, allowing wider audiences to experience artworks and monuments. The sepia tone and the soft focus of the image imbue the scene with a romantic, almost dreamlike quality, enhancing the funereal mood. In this image, we see an intriguing interplay between the traditions of sculpture and photography, each medium lending its unique qualities to the other. It reminds us that every artwork, regardless of its medium, is a product of both material and method, shaped by the social context in which it was made.