Giant and Amazon, Museo Napoli, 1875 Albumen Print

Regular price $45.00

A year or so ago I bought and sold a couple of c. 1875 Grand Tour albumen photos documenting sculptures in the Museum di Napoli (now known as the National Archaeological Museum, Naples); this past week I went back to the same dealer who had put out a few more and I snapped them right up. And though the giant and amazon lushly carved of marble here are meant to be dead, they sure look powerful and full of life to me, as if just in a momentary state of post-coital exhaustion:) From what I understand, the sculptures photographed are two of four Roman copies of figures from the monuments erected by King Attalos 1st of Pergamon on the South Wall of the Acropolis in Athens originals, ca. 200 bc., these two representing the victories of Gods over Giants and Greeks over Amazons.

Albumen print on thin paper, very striking. Photo: 10" x 7 13/16". Housed in its original paper sleeve: 15" x 12". Corners of the photo have been tucked into sleeve probably forever, so there is light creasing/toning evident there. Otherwise, perfect antique condition.