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Sculpture - View on the right side of the Court-yard of the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol, shewing fragments of colossal Statues

John Henry Parker

1867

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Cityscape

Dominant colour

Sculpture - View on the right side of the Court-yard of the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol, shewing fragments of colossal Statues 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 photo shows an old courtyard with a weathered wall. There are three small windows—two with shutters, one with wooden bars. A door sits in the middle, slightly ajar. In front of the wall, broken statues and fragments lie scattered: a headless torso, a cracked column, and a few half-buried pieces. One piece is propped up on a small stool, and a basket sits empty on the ground. The scene feels forgotten, like leftovers from a time when these statues were whole. The artist took this photo to show how ruins look in real life, not just in paintings. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more photos like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The photograph depicts the right side of the courtyard at the Palazzo de' Conservatori on Rome’s Capitoline Hill, displaying scattered fragments of columns and colossal statues. Part of a broader documentation project led by John Henry Parker, the image was captured between 1864 and 1879 as part of a survey of Rome’s classical and later monuments. The series, published in Parker’s *Archaeology of Rome*, includes contributions from multiple photographers, including local and international figures. The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a significant portion of these photographs 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