[Night View of the Grand Canal, Venice]

Carlo Naya

ca. 1875 · Albumen silver print from glass negative · Photographs

Naya operated a commercial photography studio in Venice specializing in Romantic moonlit views of architectural landmarks and vistas. Because emulsions were not sensitive enough to record images at night, he made photographs during the day, then created the illusion of moonlight through a variety of darkroom tricks. In this day-for-night image, the sun masquerades as a gently glowing moon and hand-painted highlights glitter on the water and cathedral domes.

Artist

Carlo Naya

Date

ca. 1875

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gift of Estate of Emily Delafield Floyd, 1961