Alinari Brothers, photographers in Florence

In 1870, the year General Cadorna entered Rome, conquering and making it the capital of the newly united Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi had hastened to France to offer his services to the third Republic.In the same year, Garibaldi agreed to pose for a photograph. The Alinari brothers portrayed him with a proud air, his folded hands resting on a stick. This famous photo is currently on show in Florence, at the exhibition entitled "Alinari brothers, photographers in Florence", organized by film director Giuseppe Tornatore to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Alinari Foundation. 
Carlo Arturo Quintavalle and Monica Maffioni, curators of the event, have chosen 680 photographs from those held in the Alinari archives, now almost completely digitalized. The archives comprise an impressive eight hundred thousand industrial photos, nine hundred thousand period photos, seven hundred thousand art and landscape photos.The exhibition constitutes a sort of contemplative journey through the Italy of the past and present, from 1852 to 2002, and is boosted by a striking setting designed by Tornatore. The director has covered the floors and walls of Palazzo Strozzi with several huge blown-up photos, so visitors can virtually walk over the leaning tower of Pisa and other unlikely settings. The exhibition tells the whole story of the Alinari brothers, pioneers of photography in what was a totally different world to the one we know today, dominated by bourgeois values and images of refined tranquillity shown with pride and flaunted as a symbol of well-being (think of the peaceful panoramic shots of Florence cathedral, but also the smiling pictures of gentlemen and ladies absorbed in the most mundane activities). The Alinari brothers' photographic studio was set up in via del Cornino, in the Grand Duchy of Florence, in 1852, and quickly gained international renown, so much so that Leopoldo, Giuseppe and Romualdo were soon called to photograph great European leaders (Prince Albert in England, the Archduke Charles of Hapsburg in Vienna). So much in demand were the brothers, they were called to photograph practically ever major event of the country's recent history. At the helm of the Foundation today is Claudio De Polo, who continues to add to the archive with important photographs, keeping the reputation of the Alinari company alive. 

Fratelli Alinari, fotografi in Firenze
Florence, Palazzo Strozzi
until 2nd June 2003

Alinari Brothers, photographers in Florence

In 1870, the year General Cadorna entered Rome, conquering and making it the capital of the newly united Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi had hastened to France to offer his services to the third Republic.In the same year, Garibaldi agreed to pose for a photograph. The Alinari brothers portrayed him with a proud air, his folded hands resting on a stick. This famous photo is currently on show in Florence, at the exhibition entitled "Alinari brothers, photographers in Florence", organized by film director Giuseppe Tornatore to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Alinari Foundation. 
Carlo Arturo Quintavalle and Monica Maffioni, curators of the event, have chosen 680 photographs from those held in the Alinari archives, now almost completely digitalized. The archives comprise an impressive eight hundred thousand industrial photos, nine hundred thousand period photos, seven hundred thousand art and landscape photos.The exhibition constitutes a sort of contemplative journey through the Italy of the past and present, from 1852 to 2002, and is boosted by a striking setting designed by Tornatore. The director has covered the floors and walls of Palazzo Strozzi with several huge blown-up photos, so visitors can virtually walk over the leaning tower of Pisa and other unlikely settings. The exhibition tells the whole story of the Alinari brothers, pioneers of photography in what was a totally different world to the one we know today, dominated by bourgeois values and images of refined tranquillity shown with pride and flaunted as a symbol of well-being (think of the peaceful panoramic shots of Florence cathedral, but also the smiling pictures of gentlemen and ladies absorbed in the most mundane activities). The Alinari brothers' photographic studio was set up in via del Cornino, in the Grand Duchy of Florence, in 1852, and quickly gained international renown, so much so that Leopoldo, Giuseppe and Romualdo were soon called to photograph great European leaders (Prince Albert in England, the Archduke Charles of Hapsburg in Vienna). So much in demand were the brothers, they were called to photograph practically ever major event of the country's recent history. At the helm of the Foundation today is Claudio De Polo, who continues to add to the archive with important photographs, keeping the reputation of the Alinari company alive. 

Fratelli Alinari, fotografi in Firenze
Florence, Palazzo Strozzi
until 2nd June 2003