Restanten van een oven in Pompeï - Giorgio Sommer

A nineteenth-century albumen print by Giorgio Sommer documenting the stone grain mills and oven remains in the ruins of Pompeii.

This albumen print by Giorgio Sommer captures the industrial archaeology of Pompeii during the late nineteenth century. Sommer, a German photographer based in Naples, operated one of the most prolific studios in Italy, documenting the excavations of the Roman city with technical precision. The image focuses on the remains of a bakery, specifically the distinctive hourglass-shaped lava stone mills, known as 'catilli', which were used to grind grain.

The composition provides a clear view of the structural remnants, including the brickwork of the oven and the stone floor. Sommer utilised the long exposure capabilities of the period to record the textures of the volcanic rock and the weathered masonry. His work was frequently sold to tourists and scholars as part of the 'Grand Tour' tradition, providing a visual record of the site before modern conservation efforts altered the appearance of the ruins.

Unlike contemporary artistic interpretations, Sommer approached the subject with a documentary intent. The framing is straightforward, prioritising the spatial arrangement of the milling equipment within the excavated room. The print retains the original mount, which includes the studio's inventory number, 5345, and the title 'forno (Pompei)'. This photograph serves as a record of the archaeological state of the site in the late 1800s, reflecting the era's fascination with classical antiquity and the scientific documentation of historical sites.