Modena Exhibition Reveals Obscure 19th-Century Photographer Robert Rive

Fondazione Fotografia di Modena presents 'Robert Rive – Photographie d'Italie', a major exhibition dedicated to the little-known 19th-century photographer. Curated by Chiara Dall'Olio, the show features over 150 never-before-seen albumen prints from a recently disassembled album lent by a private collector. Rive, born around 1825 in Breslau (then Prussia, now Poland), moved to Naples in 1850 with his brother Giulio, already skilled in photography. He specialized in views of Italian cities, using unusually wide angles and elevated viewpoints. Professor Giovanni Fanelli recently discovered Rive's death certificate, confirming he died in Naples in 1868. However, some prints in the collection are dated 1895, suggesting his studio continued production after his death. The exhibition runs until January 8, 2017 at Foro Boario in Modena.