DISCOVERART

Robert MacPherson

Palace of the Caesars on the Palatine

1860
Albumen print
30.7 × 39.9 cm (12.1 × 15.7 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Robert MacPherson moved to Rome in 1840, working as a landscape painter and art dealer until he began practicing photography in 1851. A new class of tourists—beyond the coterie of aristocrats who had initially popularized the Grand Tour—had begun traveling to Italy, and MacPherson quickly opened a photography studio to sell his high-quality prints of famous sculptures and architectural sites. For this view, he aimed his camera toward the southeast from the ruins of the Palace of the Caesars on Palatine Hill in Rome. Visible to the right are the Circus Maximus and the crenellated tower of the Santa Balbina church and monastery. In 1863 MacPherson wrote, “I remain a photographer to this day, without any feeling that by doing so I have . . . forfeited my claim to the title of artist.”

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Robert MacPherson

Untitled (Ruins of Roman Forum)Untitled (Ruins of Roman Forum)The Valley of the Anio, with the Upper and Lower Cascatelle, Mecenas's Villa, and Distant CampagnaThe Valley of the Anio, with the Upper and Lower Cascatelle,Fountain of NeptuneFountain of NeptuneUntitled (Statue of the Laocoon)Untitled (Statue of the Laocoon)Falls of TerniFalls of TerniColiseumColiseumUntitled (San Stefano en Rotundo)Untitled (San Stefano en Rotundo)St. Peter'sSt. Peter's

More like this

St. Andrews Castle, from the SoutheastDavid Octavius Hill (British, 1802–1870) — St. Andrews CastlBay of BaiaRev. Calvert R. Jones — Bay of BaiaChateau de Murol en AuvergneEdouard Denis Baldus — Chateau de Murol en AuvergneGrand Temple d'Isis à Philoe, Vue Générale Prise du Nord; Nubie, plate 80 from the album "Egypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie" (1852)Maxime Du Camp — Grand Temple d'Isis à Philoe, Vue Générale Nubie. Grand Temple d'Isis, A Philoe. Vue générale prise du nordMaxime Du Camp|Imprimerie photographique de Blanquart-ÉvrardThe Residency, Taken from the Redan BatteryFelice A. Beato (British, 1832–1909) — The Residency, Taken Vue Prise à l'Angle Sud-Ouest, Philoe; Nubie, plate 69 from the album "Egypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie" (1852)Maxime Du Camp — Vue Prise à l'Angle Sud-Ouest, Philoe; Nubi[Burning Ghat, Chandanagore-a French Settlement on the Hoogly]Unknown — [Burning Ghat, Chandanagore-a French Settlement onBethanyFrancis Frith — BethanyThe Churchyard and Residency in the DistanceFelice A. Beato (British, 1832–1909) — The Churchyard and ReJérusalem, Enceinte du Temple, Piscine probatique, 1Imprimerie photographique de Blanquart-Évrard, à Lille|Augus[Colosseum, Rome]Unknown — [Colosseum, Rome]