David Seymour | Magnum Photos Bernard Berenson, American art collector of Lithuanian origin, looking at Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova. Borghese Gallery, Rome, Italy. 1955.
“The great art connoisseur B
(...) ernard Berenson seems to make eye contact with the stone sculpture of Pauline Borghese, Napoleon's younger sister. The patrician Berenson's visit to Rome's Borghese Gallery followed the path of many children of nobility who made grand tours of European cultural sites as part of their education. Travel has always been seen as a path to maturity, a necessary journey to learn about foreign countries, unfamiliar cultures, and diverse artistic forms. These traditional rites of passage would last months or years, often dramatically influencing the traveler’s life choices. Journeys of this nature remain a significant experience for many people, regardless of class. Chim's photo captures Berenson's gaze, seemingly at a moment of insight and transformation.”
- Ben Shneiderman, nephew of David ‘Chim’ Seymour © David Seymour | Magnum Photos
