19×34 cm (23×33 cm)

These famous images of Venice are the work of Carlo Naya (1816-1882), who was born near Turin in 1816. After studying law he seems to have travelled widely and worked as a daguerreotypist, setting up a a studio in Prague and in Constantinople. On his return to Italy he had a brief partnership with Carlo Ponti before setting up his own business in the Piazza San Marco in 1868. From that point onwards Naya and Ponti were rivals in taking images of the landmarks and attractions of Venice with Naya’s business growing to become one of the largest in Venice.