History depicted: The Risorgimento

History painting remained the leading artistic genre well into the 19th century, with European academies focusing their training programmes on producing artists in this field. Painters chose outstanding historical events and literary themes for their works, often depicting them in grandiose formats. However, the growing disparity between idealised images and the increasing demand for realism led to a loss of credibility for the genre, diminishing its artistic significance. Within this context, battle painting played a special role, gradually adopting a more realistic approach throughout the 19th century.

Photographers had distinct methods for capturing important events, providing realistic and therefore authentic documentation of current affairs. The most pivotal event in 19th-century Italian history was the unification of the nation-state, known as the Risorgimento, with key milestones including the battles for Rome in 1849 and Garibaldi's "Expedition of the Thousand" culminating in the capture of Palermo in 1861. Early photographs by Stefano Lecchi (1804-1859/63) and Luigi Sacchi (1805-1861) depict scenes and remnants of these battles. Due to the long exposure times of the period, these images could not capture the action itself. Lecchi's photographs from July 1849 are among the earliest visual records of wartime settings.

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