Yale Center for British Art

Creator:

Macpherson, Robert, 1815 or 1816-1872

Title:

Photograph album of scenes in Rome.

Alternate Title(s):

Title stamped in gold on front cover: Roma

Published / Created:

Rome, circa 1865?

Physical Description:

59 photographic prints in 1 album : albumen prints, from wet collodion negatives ; 33 x 41 cm or smaller, in volume 48 x 64 cm

Holdings:

Rare Books and Manuscripts
Folio C 2019 1
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund

Copyright Status:

Classification:

Photographs

Notes:

The Scottish painter and photographer Robert Macpherson (circa 1815-1872) was active at Rome from about 1840 until his death. In the early 1850s he turned to photography, specializing in large format images depicting Roman architecture, monuments, and artwork. Much of his photographic work was produced for the tourist trade, for which he was a leading practitioner.

Between 1858 and 1871, Macpherson published at least six different catalogs (or price lists) of his photographs of Rome, under the title "Macpherson's photographs." The number of works listed steadily increased: 163 in 1858; 187 in 1859; 305 in 1863; 312 in 1865; 379 in 1868; and 420 in 1871, though the last of these includes blank entries (perhaps for photographs no longer available). The 1858 and 1871 lists are reproduced in: Becchetti, Piero. Robert Macpherson, un inglese fotografo a Roma (Roma: Quasar, 1987). The head of the 1871 list specifies: "The photographs named in this list are of one uniform price, namely 3 francs each." At the end of the list, Macpherson notes: "N.B. Mr. Macpherson finds it necessary to state that all his photographs are stamped with his name on the mounting-board; and also that they are not exposed nor to be had any of the shops, and are only sold at his Studio n. 12 Vicolo d'Alibert, via del Babuino, near the Piazza di Spagna."

In the present album, 24 photographs are on a mount (leaf) bearing Macpherson's embossed stamps, with his image number written in graphite. The remaining photographs are unsigned. Some may be James Anderson (1813-1877).

Bound in half vellum and blue cloth, stamped in gold.

With the bookplate of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, Library (Reference).

In the contents note, photograph titles are transcribed as they appear in captions written in ink on the mounts (leaves of the album). Macpherson numbers (within his blind stamp) are transcribed in parentheses.

Contents:

[Leaf 1] Castle of St. Angelo and bridge (numbers 342) -- [2] View of St. Peter's -- [3] View of Rome (numbers 233) -- [4] Colosseum -- [5] Colosseum, interior -- [6] Colosseum and Arch of Constantine (numbers 31) -- [7] Forum Romanum: Temple of Vespasian, Temple of Saturn, Temple of Castor and Pollux (numbers 338) -- [8] Pantheon -- [9] Castle of St. Angelo -- [10] Porta S. Paola and Pyramid of Cestius -- [11] Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius -- [12] Facade of St. Peter's -- [13] Facade of St. Peter's (numbers 104) -- [14] Interior of St. Peter's -- [15] St. Peter's, loggia -- [16] St. Peter's [holy water font] -- [17] St. Peter's, Tomb of Clement XII -- [18] Church of St. Paul's (S. Paolo Fuori le Mura), interior -- [19] Church of Trinità dei Monti (erected 1495), The Scala di Spagna (constructed 1721-25) -- [20] Forum Romanum: Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vespasian (numbers 309) -- [21] Temple of Hercules (known for a long time as the Temple of Vesta) (numbers 17) -- [22] Temple of Faustina (numbers 168) -- [23] Pantheon (numbers 236) -- [24] Temple of Fortuna Virilis (numbers 47) -- [25] Temple of Mars Ultor (Forum of Augustus), Gate: Arco dei Pantani (numbers 238) -- [26] Forum of Nerva (numbers 6) -- [27] Basilica of Constantine -- [28] Arch of Titus -- [29] Arch of Titus, relief -- [30] Temple of Vespasian, Arch of Septimius Severus.

Subject Terms:

Form/Genre:

Photographs. | Albumen prints. | Photograph albums.

Contributors:

Anderson, James, 1813–1877, photographer.