Photography in Italy 1846–1900 – Dietmar Siegert Collection
The virtual *bavarikon* exhibition *Italy in 19th-Century Photographs and Paintings* explores various facets of the image of Italy through selected photographs - The significant Dietmar Siegert photography collection is now online – Link to the collection: www.fotografie-in-italien.pinakothek.de
TIP: Starting October 13, 2026, the exhibition "Images of People: Portrait and Genre Photographs from the Dietmar Siegert Collection" will be presented in the East Wing of the Alte Pinakothek, drawing on this collection (ENGLISH, DEUTSCH, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS)
Munich. Since 2014, the Neue Pinakothek has held Dietmar Siegert’s collection of approximately 10,000 photographs of Italy. Acquired for a seven-figure sum by the Pinakotheks-Verein in collaboration with the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation and the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, the collection complements the museum’s existing focus on Italy—established by its founder, King Ludwig I of Bavaria—which is otherwise represented through paintings and sculptures. The collection comprises images by around 300 photographers (including one woman) active in Italy between 1846 and approximately 1900: These include extensive collections of works by significant photographers and studios such as Domenico Bresolin (1813–1900), Giacomo Brogi (1822–1881), the Fratelli Alinari, Giacomo Caneva (1813–1865), and James Anderson (1813–1877). The collection holds more than 2,200 images by the Naples-based photographer Giorgio Sommer (1834–1914) alone. Among the few female photographers active in Italy whose names are known is Amélie Guillot-Saguez (1810–1864); the collection includes an early portrait by her dating from 1846 (Inv. No. DS 1490).
 |
| Munich Pinakotheken – Photo collage: Helga Waess (Press photo – Art-Culture-Cover) |
The subjects range from Northern Italy to Sicily
A key focus lies on historical and cultural centers such as Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples. In addition to documenting architecture and artworks spanning from antiquity to the Renaissance, landscape, genre, and portrait photography play a major role. Alongside images in standard formats, the collection includes hundreds of stereographs and *cartes-de-visite*—a format the size of a calling card used primarily for portraits. The collection thus documents the evolution of the photographic image of Italy, which shaped perceptions of the country well into the 20th century.
As part of the Pinakotheken’s online collection, the website
- www.fotografie-in-italien.pinakothek.de
has now been launched.
This site offers comprehensive access to all photographs in the collection, comprising a total of 9,418 works.
Advanced search functions allow users to search by photographer, location, format, and subject matter. An interactive map plotting all the locations depicted in the photographs reveals the collection's geographical dimension.
Also noteworthy is the artwork view featuring an integrated "Deep Zoom" function, which enables visitors to explore the photographs down to the finest detail—at a resolution of up to approximately 15,000 pixels in width. For instance, in shots of St. Mark’s Square by the Venetian photographer Carlo Naya, one can discover fascinating details—such as a handcart laden with glasses and bottles that, like a still life, punctuates the otherwise deserted square (Deep Zoom Inv. No. DS 3361 40).
Go to the artwork
Introductory texts outline the collection's key areas of focus
Other topics include the techniques and processes of early photography, illustrated by examples from the collection. Particular attention is paid to the stamps and signatures photographers used to mark their works; these serve as vital tools for identifying the creators and dating the photographs.
Since late 2024, around 8,000 photographs from the collection have been accessible on *bavarikon*, the Free State of Bavaria’s online portal for showcasing art, cultural, and scholarly treasures from institutions across the state:
Photography in Italy: The Dietmar Siegert Collection at the Neue Pinakothek. The virtual *bavarikon* exhibition *Italy in 19th-Century Photographs and Paintings* explores various facets of the image of Italy through selected photographs, juxtaposing them with paintings from the Neue Pinakothek and the Schack Collection.
The digitization of the Dietmar Siegert Collection was made possible by bavarikon
The creation of the website fotografie-in-italien.pinakothek.de was made possible by the Pinakotheks-Verein in collaboration with the Hertie Foundation.
A selection from the collection will be on view in the East Wing of the Alte Pinakothek starting October 13, 2026:
Images of People
Portrait and genre photographs from the Dietmar Siegert Collection
- from October 13, 2026, in the East Wing of the Alte Pinakothek
Photographers in the collection
#Domenico Bresolin (1813–1900), #Giacomo Brogi (1822–1881), #Fratelli Alinari, #Giacomo Caneva (1813–1865), #James Anderson (1813–1877), #Giorgio Sommer (1834–1914), #Amélie Guillot-Saguez
