Entry 18: A Deteriorating yet Perfect Photograph - A Struduta pero Perfetta Fotografia

Location: Calabria, Italy 

Date: Shortly after 1896

Fragile.

Severely stained.

Torn and tattered.

Folded in half and damaged,

Possibly beyond repair.

Three Calabrese relatives linger on frail paper,

Their ghostly images refusing to fade into oblivion.

Francesco, Girolamo and Francesca

Deserving prime focus, this extraordinary photograph has endured the passage of time after surviving for more than 120 years. Now it serves as an ideal platform from which to start exploring the ancestry of Salvatore (Sarvu) Moschilla - husband of Concetta (Cuncia) Trimboli.

Left to right:

1.    Francesco Moschilla – Salvatore’s paternal grandfather

2.    Girolamo Moschilla (born 19/05/1872) – Salvatore’s uncle

3.    Francesca Verteramo – Salvatore’s aunty

The relationships of the people in the photo:

1. Girolamo is the son of Francesco.

2. Francesca is Girolamo’s (first) wife. Girolamo was 24 years old when he married Francesca.

As expressed in the title: ‘Chista fotografia e struduta pero e perfetta.’ Through its survival alone, the image speaks to each of us on an individual level, delivering personal and unique messages in a universal language that needs no additional explanation.