Robert Rive facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Rive
Born	27 March 1817  Wrocław
Died	30 March 1868  (aged 51) Torre del Greco

Robert Rive was a famous photographer from the 1800s. He was born in Great Britain but spent most of his career taking pictures in Italy. After living there for some years, he even changed his name to Roberto Rive. He is best known for his amazing photographs of ancient places like Pompei and Rome from the 1860s and 1870s. His work was so good that it was shown at the "10th Annual Exhibition of the Photographie."

Capturing Italy: Robert Rive's Photography

Robert Rive worked as a photographer in Naples from the early 1860s until 1889. He specialized in two main types of photography:

• Topographical photography: This means taking pictures of landscapes, buildings, and cities.
• Portrait photography: This means taking pictures of people.

In 1867, Rive's work was featured at a big event called the Exposition Universelle in Paris. His photography studio created many "views" (pictures of famous places) and "stereographs." Stereographs are special photos that, when viewed with a device, create a 3D effect.

What Did Rive Photograph?

Rive traveled all over Italy to capture its beauty. He took pictures of important monuments in cities like Naples, Pompei, Sorrento, Capri, and Amalfi. He also photographed historical sites in Sicily.

His camera also captured the charm of other Italian cities, including Florence, Pisa, Siena, Rome, and Genoa. He had photography studios in Naples, including one at Palazzo Serracapriola.

Rive's Impact on Photography

Robert Rive, along with another photographer named Giorgio Sommer, helped create a huge collection of images. These pictures showed the monuments and daily life in the regions of Campania and Sicily. This collection was very important because it provided a lot of information about these areas.

Rive also invented and patented a special kind of photosensitive paper. This paper was used for developing pictures in Southern Italy.

Gallery of Robert Rive's Work

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  Stereo card of the Amphitheater in Pompei, 1865. This photo would have looked 3D!

• 

  Palace of the Emperors. Caligula's Bridge, taken before 1889.

Where to See His Art

You can find Robert Rive's photographs in several famous museums around the world:

• J. Paul Getty Museum
• Musée d'Orsay
• Museo di Roma