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Sculpture - Sarcophagus of the fourth century made into a fountain, near the Church of S. Maria, in the Piazza del Popolo

John Henry Parker

1867

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Sculpture - Sarcophagus of the fourth century made into a fountain, near the Church of S. Maria, in the Piazza del Popolo is a 1867 photographic by John Henry Parker, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: John Henry Parker
When & what style?: 1867 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This photograph shows a stone sculpture that has been repurposed as a fountain. The sculpture is rectangular with a circular carving in the center. It is set against a stone wall, with a small ledge in front of it. The sculpture features a carving of two figures in the center, surrounded by wavy lines on either side. The overall design is simple yet elegant, with a focus on the central carving. The photograph is a great example of the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume.

The story of this work

Overview

A Roman sarcophagus from the fourth century has been repurposed as a fountain near the Church of S. Maria in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo. The photograph is one of over 3,300 images documenting Rome’s classical and early modern monuments, produced between 1864 and 1879 under the direction of John Henry Parker for the Archaeology of Rome series. Parker employed a team of local and international photographers, with the Victoria and Albert Museum later acquiring many of the images taken before 1870.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

John Henry Parker

John Henry Parker liked to explore old churches in Rome. He'd photograph the sculptures and carvings he found. One thing that stands out is his attention to detail - he'd capture tiny parts of bigger pieces, like the…

See the richer artist page