Temple of Hercules Victor, Rome – Albumen Photograph by Pietro Dovizielli

Temple of Hercules Victor and Temple of Portunus, Rome – Albumen Photograph by Pietro Dovizielli, ca. 1860

This finely preserved albumen photograph captures the Forum Boarium in Rome, featuring two of the city’s most iconic ancient monuments: the circular Temple of Hercules Victor in the foreground and, just beyond it, the rectangular Temple of Portunus. The Temple of Hercules, dating from the late 2nd century BC, is the oldest surviving marble building in Rome, recognizable by its 20 Corinthian columns encircling the cella. To its right stands the Temple of Portunus, a well-preserved Ionic temple of the 1st century BC, dedicated to the god of rivers and harbors.

Taken around 1860, the photograph records the site before the major restorations of the late 19th and 20th centuries. It documents not only the enduring grandeur of Roman architecture but also the atmosphere of mid-19th-century Rome, when ancient ruins still stood in quiet, sparsely trafficked surroundings. The soft tonal qualities of the albumen print highlight the textures of the stone, from the fluted columns to the weathered walls, lending the image both clarity and a timeless quality.

A sign on the wall above the door reads: “E’ VIETATO FERMARSI IN QUESTA PIAZZA CON BARROCCHI, CARRETTE E BESTIAME (CONTRAVVENTORI SARANNO MULTATI).” — warning carriages and livestock drivers against stopping in the square under penalty of fines.

The Photographer
Pietro Dovizielli (1804–1885) was an Italian painter and photographer based in Rome, best known for his architectural and landscape views. Originally trained as a painter, Dovizielli became one of the early adopters of photography in Italy, turning to the albumen process in the mid-19th century. His works, often sold to Grand Tour travelers, are valued today for their documentary precision and their quiet, atmospheric depiction of ancient and Renaissance monuments. Through his lens, Rome’s historic landmarks were preserved at a moment when they were beginning to attract serious attention from archaeologists and restorers.