Gezicht op Venetië vanuit Campanile van Venetië c. 1850 - 1880

Carlo Naya made this albumen print of Venice from the Campanile sometime in the mid-19th century. In his time, Venice was not only a popular tourist destination, but also a place haunted by the memory of its former political power, before it was annexed to Austria in 1797. Naya made a career out of the paradox of Venice – a place of historic grandeur which was becoming a modern tourist center. Here, the symmetry of the composition focuses on the domes of the Santa Maria della Salute Church. At the same time, Naya’s chosen vantage point, high above the city, displays the urban infrastructure needed to support tourism, and the commercial activity of the port. Through photography, Venice became a commodity, bought and sold as a souvenir of upper-class tourism. Understanding the culture of 19th century Italian tourism is key to unlocking this image. You might consult guidebooks, maps, and tourist diaries to understand how it functioned as a business and a cultural phenomenon.