Palazzo Vecchio, Florence c. 1855 - 1870

This photograph captures the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, and was created by the Italian photography firm, Fratelli Alinari. This image opens a window onto the visual culture of the late 19th century, a period marked by the rise of photography as both an artistic and documentary medium. Consider how photography at this time served as a tool for constructing and disseminating cultural narratives. Fratelli Alinari specialized in photographing Italian art and architecture, and this image speaks to the firm's role in shaping perceptions of Italian identity and cultural heritage. The Palazzo Vecchio, as a symbol of Florentine power and history, is presented here as a monument to civic pride. The choice of perspective and the clarity of detail invite the viewer to consider the legacy of the Renaissance. We must also consider how the image maintains a certain historical narrative while obscuring others. What stories of labor, class, and gender are left untold? The photograph invites a dialogue between the grandeur of the past and the possibilities of the present.