Life, 1890-04-24 · page 10 of 18
Life — April 24, 1890 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page contains two distinct sections: **Top section ("Italian Drama"):** A brief essay defending Italian opera against Wagner's dominance. It mentions past Italian opera stars and advocates for performers like Albani, Tamagno, Del Puente, and Ravelli, arguing audiences should appreciate well-rendered Italian opera. **Bottom section ("Illustrated Photography for Amateurs"):** A humorous instructional guide showing common photography mistakes through cartoon illustrations—overexposed plates, intensifying negatives, mounting errors, underdeveloped prints, silver prints issues, fresh groups, dry plates, forgotten slide closures, drop shutters, blown prints, and improper cap placement. This is instructional satire: the cartoons mock amateur photographers' frequent blunders in an era when photography was becoming accessible to the general public. Each labeled illustration demonstrates a different way the process could fail.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LI ITALIAN. WE have had Italian opera at last, and those who cry out against the prevalence of Wagner should rest content. They have had their Patti, who has drawn dollars and applause in about equal quantities. They have also had a company of able artists who have done their very best for the marrons of Donizetti, Bellini, etc. What can be said, however, for the musical taste of the FE: New York public when they will flock to hear Patti in * Somnambula” or “ Traviata,” with “ Home, Sweet Home” for a wind-up, and neglect an opportunity to hear “ Faust.” beautifully rendered by Albani, Del Puente and Ravelli? It is not Italian opera that the public want, but a sensation, and strange as it may appear, Patti is still considered a sensation. Whatever she may choose to sing will be wildly applauded. whether it be good or bad music. The composer apparently counts for nothing, If we had any musical taste the audi- ence would have been small indeed on Patti nights, and com- posed principally of venerable gray heads, who with eyes half closed, recall the days when they and “Somnambula” were young. If the “ Diva” is too old or too lazy to learn anything new, let us turn our attention to others who can and will, and with such as Albani Tamagno, Del Puente and Ravelli, etc., lovers of good Italian opera may be always sure of hearing it well rendered. OVER EXHOSURE. SILVER PRINTS. FORGOT TO CLOSE THE SLIME. A DROP SHUTTER, MOUNTING ON CARDS, UNDER DEVELOPMENT, A FRESH GROUP. A DRY PLATE, A BLEW PRINT. PUTTING ON THE CaP, comicbooks.com