Plaster Cast of a Dog from Pompeii - Giorgio Sommer

A nineteenth-century albumen print by Giorgio Sommer documenting a plaster cast of a dog discovered during the excavations at Pompeii.

This albumen print by Giorgio Sommer documents one of the most poignant discoveries from the excavations at Pompeii. Following the methodology developed by Giuseppe Fiorelli, archaeologists poured liquid plaster into the voids left by organic matter within the volcanic ash. This process captured the final moments of victims of the 79 AD eruption, including this dog, which was found chained and struggling against the encroaching debris.

Sommer, a German photographer based in Naples, operated a prolific studio that catered to the growing demand for images of Italian antiquities and archaeological sites. His work provided a visual record for European audiences who were fascinated by the ongoing excavations. The photograph presents the subject against a dark, neutral background, focusing the viewer on the texture of the plaster and the contorted posture of the animal. The stark lighting emphasises the rough surface of the cast, which retains the impression of the dog's collar and the tension in its limbs.

As a commercial photographer, Sommer produced numerous catalogues of his prints, which were sold as souvenirs to travellers on the Grand Tour. This specific image belongs to a series documenting the human and animal remains recovered from the site. The print serves as a historical record of nineteenth-century archaeological practices and the public fascination with the tragic history of Pompeii. The clarity of the albumen process allows for a detailed examination of the cast, preserving the physical evidence of the disaster for study and observation. This print is a representative example of how early photography functioned as both a scientific tool and a medium for disseminating archaeological knowledge to a wider public.