Interno del Colosseo

Giovanni Battista Altadonna

1850s · Albumen silver print from glass negative · Photographs

The Roman Colosseum ranks beside the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge, and the pyramids at Giza as one of the most recognizable man-made constructions in the ancient world. Built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian (69-79), it has been on the European Grand Tour for centuries and stands as one of the finest examples of ancient Roman architectural engineering. Tiers of arches and half columns in the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders create a four-story amphitheater capable of seating more than 45,000 spectators. Romans and their visitors were entertained by spectacles including chariot races, mock naval battles, fights between gladiators, and staged hunts for wild animals. After the fall of Imperial Rome, the building became a fortress, a quarry for building materials, a picturesque backdrop for classical painters, and a place of Christian worship. In 1744 Pope Benedict XIV dedicated the Colosseum to the Passion of Jesus and installed the cross seen here, as well as the white altars representing the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The initials "AGB" scratched into the negatives of related prints are all that is known of the identity of the artist.

Artist

Giovanni Battista Altadonna

Date

1850s

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005