The Museum will virtually bring to your homes a selection of photographs coming from our archive. Every week you will discover new images.
Russian arsonist, 1890 ca.
Unidentified photographer, albumen print on cardboard
This 23 years old Russian farmer set fire to her lover’s home for revenge after he left her, she was then condemned to four years of forced labour. At the end of the 19th Century, the Italian legislation prohibited to photograph detainees, because of this Lombroso would ask his foreign colleague for photographic material on criminals. This image is part of a series of photographs depicting Russian female criminals sent to Lombroso in 1891 by Russian criminologist Pauline Tarnowsky (link al post).
On the back of the picture there is a phisiognomic expertise, written in french by Tarnowsky: Cheveux très blonds. Yeux bleus. Anom: 1. Asym. des sourcils, qui sont roux ardents. 2. Gros lobules (oreilles). 3. Dents défectueuses. 4. Nez camus. (Very blond hair, blue eyes, Abnormalities: 1. Asimmetry of the eyesbrows, that are fiery red; Big ear lobes; 3 defective teeth ; Snub nose)