Feeding the Pigeons in Saint Mark's Square, Venice

A wayward toddler is the star of this short early travelogue

An unruly child actor can't spoil the charm of this utterly delightful bit of film. The diminutive star seems to have her own agenda - she certainly doesn't seem too keen to take direction from filmmaker William Kennedy-Laurie Dickson (that's him, looking dapper in a white suit and cap). At least the pigeons hit their marks! The beauty of the scene is enhanced by its exceptional image quality - thanks to Dickson's unique large-format (68mm) film stock.

This was one of a number of films taken during Dickson's 1898 tour of Italy. On the same tour, Dickson secured the coup of capturing the first moving images of the Pope (then Leo XIII).