Vont met wijwater, met bovenop een beeld van Christus, van de San Marco in Venetië before 1885

This is Carl Heinrich Jacobi’s photograph of a holy water font inside the San Marco in Venice. Taken sometime in the 19th century, this image captures the grand religious architecture that was increasingly available for viewing by the public through photography. The photograph depicts an ornate baptismal font topped with a statue of Christ. The photograph, stark and devoid of human presence, invites us to consider the role of religion in 19th-century society, particularly in relation to the growing accessibility of religious spaces to the public. How did the representation of religious objects and spaces in photography impact personal beliefs and practices? How might the accessibility of religious imagery affect the power dynamics within the church and the broader community? Consider the intersections of religion, access, and representation in shaping our understanding of faith and identity. Consider too, the way the black and white image lends the photograph a sense of timelessness that underscores the weight of history.