Forti. Alfred. 18 ans, né à Milan (Italie). Restaurateur. Anarchiste. 27/2/94.
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative
Dimensions
10.5 x 7 x 0.5 cm (4 1/8 x 2 3/4 x 3/16 in.) each
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.375.168
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, criminologist Alphonse Bert revolutionized law enforcement with his anthropometric system, combining precise body measurements with standardized photography to identify suspects. This 1894 albumen silver print from glass negative captures Alfred Forti, an 18-year-old restaur born in Milan, Italy, labeled as an "anarchiste" (anarchist). Dated February 27, the small portrait (10.5 x 7 cm) exemplifies Bert's mugshot format: a stark, frontal view designed for scientific accuracy rather than artistic flourish, reflecting the era's growing use of photography in policing ami...
About the Artist
Alphonse Bertillon · 1853–1914
Alphonse Bertillon (1853–1914) was a pioneering French photographer whose work revolutionized forensic documentation, transforming police identification into a precise visual science. Born in Paris on April 22, 1853, he was the son of medical professor and statistician Louis-Adolphe Bertillon and the younger brother of demographer Jacques Bertillon. Lacking formal higher education after expulsion ...