Pompeii_ Domus Vettiorum, Leda with the swan, mural painting, No. 11220 c. 1880 - 1890

Giacomo Brogi created this photograph of a Roman mural of Leda and the Swan found in Pompeii. Brogi documented artworks from a time when the rise of photography allowed for the wide distribution of images, impacting how art and history were perceived and understood. This photograph captures a painting of Leda, a queen of Sparta in Greek mythology, and Zeus, who appears to her in the form of a swan. In the myth, Leda produces an egg, from which Helen of Troy is born. This depiction reflects the Roman fascination with Greek mythology and art, often reinterpreting classical themes to suit their cultural values. The painting's presence in a domestic space suggests the integration of mythological narratives into everyday life. Brogi's photograph allows us to reflect on the themes of power, desire, and transformation inherent in the myth, as well as the broader cultural exchanges between Greece and Rome.