L'ALBUM (literary and fine arts journal). — Illustrated weekly of Rome (first 4, then 8 quarto pages), founded and directed by GIOVANNI DI ANGELIS, published from 8 March 1834 to 3 May 1862.
Given its modest subscription price (Rome, 2.30 scudi; provinces and abroad, 3.10; single issue, 5 giacchini), it became the preferred reading matter of the middle classes. Primarily elementary in its encyclopedic character, it then dealt with the arts, sciences, travel, and curiosities. Among its features were the “cifre figurate” (rebus) by NINI. The archaeological and biographical articles were of interest, while contemporary literary production was mediocre; there were very many copperplate engravings of portraits; and the epigraphs collected by A. BELLl were useful for the urban chronicle of Rome. It managed, by cautiously avoiding mention of current events, to survive during the Republic and the siege of 1849, but thirteen years later it fell victim to a trivial journalistic mishap. It published, in fact, a spicy tale, a prose summary of a “novella galante” by CASTI: this led to its immediate suppression.