Tempel van Venus in Pompeï 1861 - 1878

This stereoscopic image of the Temple of Venus in Pompeii was made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy. The image invites a certain kind of tourism. It shows us that this Italian site was re-emerging as a popular destination for those seeking to understand the ancient world. Lamy’s photograph prompts us to think about what it meant for the cultural elites to rediscover this site. Pompeii offered nineteenth-century viewers a glimpse into the daily life of the Roman Empire. Temples such as this one offered a way to connect with classical antiquity. But these ruins also told a story of destruction and loss. Vesuvius serves as a reminder of nature's power. As an institution, the museum is closely linked with these types of images. It mediates our understanding of classical antiquity. To understand this image further, we could research the history of archaeology, the culture of tourism, and the role of photography in shaping historical narratives. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.