Venditrice d'amorini - Giorgio Sommer

A nineteenth-century photographic reproduction of the famous Roman fresco from Pompeii, depicting a merchant selling cupids.

This photographic reproduction captures a famous Roman fresco discovered in Pompeii, known as the Seller of Cupids. The original wall painting, found in the Villa of Ariadne, depicts a merchant woman offering winged cupids to a seated female client. Giorgio Sommer, a prolific photographer based in Naples, documented many such archaeological finds during the nineteenth century. His work provided European audiences with access to the visual culture of the ancient world.

The composition follows a clear, theatrical arrangement. The seller sits to the right, holding a small cupid figure above a cage containing another. To the left, a seated woman observes the transaction, accompanied by an attendant. The figures are rendered with the balanced proportions and clean lines characteristic of Roman wall painting. Sommer’s print preserves the tonal values of the original fresco, allowing for a study of the classical drapery and the narrative focus of the scene.

Sommer operated a large studio in Naples, producing extensive catalogues of Italian topography and antiquities. His documentation of Pompeian frescoes was highly sought after by scholars and tourists alike. This print reflects the nineteenth-century fascination with classical history and the preservation of archaeological sites. The image is presented within a decorative border, typical of the archival presentation methods used in nineteenth-century photographic albums. It serves as a record of both the ancient artwork and the photographic techniques employed to catalogue such discoveries during the Victorian era.