Pompeii, Mother & Daughter, Albumen Print, 1870s

Albumen print of plaster casts made of a mother and daughter found near the Augustus Temple in Pompeii in 1863 by archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli (1823-1896). The casts provided information about how people died, what they were doing, and what they wore. His systematic excavation of Pompeii helped to preserve much of the ancient city and contributed significantly to modern archaeological methods. Fiorelli commissioned Italian photographer Giorgio Sommer to photograph the plaster casts.
 
Text on photo- 84 Pompei: impronte umane, Madre e figlia, nella via tempio Augusto
(Human footprints, Mother and daughter, in the street of the Augustus temple)
 
Photographer: Giorgio Sommer, Italian, 1834–1914 (attributed)
Format: Albumen Print
Size: 10 x 8 pasted on 14 x 11 board
Condition: Excellent, slight bend to board