Ars Photographica (1867) by Pope Leo XIII?

[John Kasaian]

Well this is the week of obscure photographic/poetry discoveries at the Kasaian cave. First it was Robinson Jeffers and Edward Weston, now its Pope Leo XIII and Ars Photographica. While researching Frank Browne, the photographer who took the only surviving photos taken aboard the HMS Titanic while at sea, I learned that a contemporary of his in school at Belvedere College in Dublin was James Joyce, who was also a photography buff. Joyce opened the first cinema in Dublin, The Volta, on MAry St. in 1909 (Father Browne A Life in Pictures by E.E. "Donnell) Anyway, an obscure poem by Pope Leo XIII was likely passed between the two men which praises photography. The Poem Ars Photographica was written by the then Cardinal Pecci or Perugia shortly after the U.S. Civil War in 1867. If you're curious, I found a web page with the story, the poem in the original latin and translation:

http://www.gavinbryars.com/Pages/on_photography.html

Cheers!

[domenico Foschi]

Only you, John, can find such very interesting things.
You are an assett to this forum.

Could we extend a bit the deadline for the money I owe you?:)

[John Kasaian]

Thanks Domenico! :)