Rome. Portrait of a City

Rome is the city where past and present, spectacle and the everyday collide around every corner; where Baroque drama flourishes alongside ancient classical wonders; where necks crane to admire Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel; and where Fellini immortalized la dolce vita. This photographic portrait of Rome brings you all the history and all the wonders of an incomparable cultural capital.

Format: Hardback
Length: 486 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2021
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

This captivating photographic portrait of Rome brings together a vast collection of images spanning from the 1840s to the present day, offering a comprehensive exploration of the extraordinary history, breathtaking beauty, and rich artistic heritage of this unparalleled cultural capital.

From the timeless charm of sepia and black and white to the vibrant hues of color, these remarkable images, dating from the 1840s to the present, transport us through the eyes of renowned photographers such as Giacomo Caneva, Pompeo Molins, Giuseppe Primoli, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Carlo Bavagnoli, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Pasquale De Antonis, Peter Lindbergh, Slim Aarons, and William Klein. Through their lenses, we discover Rome in a myriad of captivating guises, revealing its pivotal role as the center of the Roman Empire, the cradle of the Renaissance, a beloved destination for travelers, a vibrant tapestry of diverse neighborhoods, the spiritual heart of the Roman Catholic Church, a stage for politics, and a perfect backdrop for film and fashion shoots.

Delving into the depths of illustrious archives, some of the early images in this book offer a privileged Grand Tour glimpse of some of Rome's most treasured landmarks, showcasing the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Spanish Steps almost devoid of crowds. As we progress, later pictures capture the city's contrasts, from the luxurious homes and leisurely pursuits of the privileged to street stalls and laundry lines in the working-class districts of Trastevere and Testaccio. Documentary-style shots also reveal the darker side of Rome, showcasing the influence of Mussolini and his iconic imagery of strength, athleticism, and the fatherland.

As color photography emerges, Rome undergoes a transformative aesthetic shift, transitioning from the neo-realism aesthetic of the past to the postwar recovery and hedonism of the present. The city is immortalized in all its glamorous glory, with immortalized by Fellini, including the iconic gowns, exotic celebrities, and café culture of Via Veneto. Many famous faces grace these images, including Louis Armstrong, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn, adding an extra layer of allure to this visual journey through Rome's rich history and vibrant present.

Weight: 3690g
Dimension: 335 x 257 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836562713