Alinari / Noack - Panorama of the port of Genoa from San Benigno

TITLE Panorama of the port of Genoa from San Benigno, two-part albumen photograph, c.1870 SUMMARY Two-part albumen panorama of Genoa and its harbour, taken from the heights of San Benigno on the western side of the port, circa 1865–1875. The view sweeps from the Stazione Principe at left across the crowded harbour to the old city and the hill of Carignano at right, with the Portofino promontory in the distance. The port is shown before the large-scale harbour works begun in 1877. DESCRIPTION Elevated panoramic view looking east across the port of Genoa, made from two negatives printed separately and joined at the centre. The left sheet shows a steep rock face in the foreground, probably part of the San Benigno hill. Beyond it are the arched train shed of the Stazione Principe, the fortifications and villas on the terraced hillsides above, and the western waterfront with a sandy foreshore and stacked materials. A steam vessel, probably a dredger, lies offshore with smoke rising. Many sailing ships are moored in rows before the quays. The right sheet shows the inner harbour and the mole with its lighthouse, probably the Molo Vecchio. Behind it lies the old city, rising to the domed basilica of Santa Maria Assunta di Carignano at right. The coast continues to the Portofino promontory on the horizon. In the foreground are a large multi-storey building with shuttered windows and a roof terrace, older houses, and an arched viaduct at lower right. Brigs, schooners and full-rigged ships lie at anchor, with smaller rowing boats between them; some masts and moving boats are blurred by the exposure. Before the expansion works started in 1877, the whole port of Genoa consisted of the semicircular basin now known as the inner harbour, protected by the old moles. The harbour shown here matches that earlier layout. giuntafilippo PHOTOGRAPHER Unidentified photographer. San Benigno was a standard viewpoint for commercial views of Genoa. A ‘Panorama di S. Benigno’ by the Alinari studio is recorded, and Alfred Noack, who worked in Genoa (1833–1895), photographed the city extensively in this period. Possibly Alfred Noack, Genoa; attribution unconfirmed. lacasadelcollezionista museidigenova PERIOD Circa 1865–1875 TECHNIQUE Albumen silver prints, two sheets joined to form a panorama COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Italy DIMENSIONS 16 × 48 cm (overall, both sheets joined) CONDITION Warm, even tone with good detail in the harbour, shipping and townscape; slight fading in the sky. The two sheets are joined at the centre, with a visible seam and a slight raised ridge along the join. On the left sheet, a fine crack line runs diagonally through the hillside in the upper left and continues into the rock face below. The right edge of the right sheet is slightly wavy. Scattered small spots. No significant losses. KEYWORDS Genoa, Genova, Italy, port, harbour, panorama, San Benigno, sailing ships, albumen print, c.1870

Estimate:£125.63

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