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from the group: Albumen

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Notes on this view:

This photograph by Giorgio Sommer (1834-1914) is of the papyrus plants along the Anapo River near Syracuse, Sicily. Sommer was an Italian photographer in the mid to late nineteenth century. His studio photographed Italian scenes for the tourist trade; he is probably best known for his views of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

This is the only surviving papyrus sedge in Northern Europe and was a popular tourist destination in the nineteenth century. The papyrus plants were transplanted from North Africa, though it is unclear how they came to Italy. Prints such as this, would have typically been sold to tourists and mounted to a board or placed in an album. However, this particular print is from an art library reference collection. Notice the man standing on the right of image; he is possibly a member of the photographic studio.