When talking about 19th century male nude photography we have to talk about the first ‘gay visual artist’ photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden 1856-1931 a wealthy supposed aristocrat from Germany. He was known for his classical nude studies of young boys which he made while living in Taormina. His subjects would often wear togas, wreaths or carry amphoras suggesting a setting in classical antiquity. His clothed subjects were quite popular whilst his homoerotic photos were sold to his friends. He was helped by the community he lived in as he would share the proceeds of his photographic sales. In 1936, many pictures were destroyed by Mussolini but a number of his Albumen prints and are still available for purchase by collectors today. And there are reprints available which were made from the original plates.s
