Rome in Technicolor: Wall-Paintings

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Though my next few blogs will be interspersed with a few guest-bloggers, I'm going to spend some time discussing something I adore: ROMAN ART. We're going to explore Rome in technicolor--this week, focusing on an especially prolific form of Roman art: wall-paintings. 

Contrary to the Holly-Rome perception one gets from 1950's and 1960's film grandeur, Rome was not all white marble and starched togas. Judging from the many examples of Roman art that I've encountered, the Romans were passionate about vivid hues. Sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and others in different locations previously encompassed by the Roman Empire have proven that domestic life was colorful and full of lively scenes, themes varying from theatrical to mythological and even sexual in nature. And that being said, I'll add that it wasn't just walls that were colorfully painted or decorated, but also columns and statuary. But more on that in another post!

Classicists have categorized Roman wall-paintings into four separate styles. The first and oldest is the First Style (also known as the Masonry Style). My top right photo, which I shared several weeks ago in discussion of the House of the Griffins, is typical of the First Style, which was prominant from about 200-80BC. It's easy to see how it was given its second name--the Masonry Style--since it was composed of faux marbling and stonework. Not as many examples of First Style have survived, so the House of the Griffins is a true treasure to those who appreciate early Roman art.

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Needless to say, the horrific Vesuvian eruption in 79 AD was a tragedy for the Pompeiians and Herculaneans, but an utter GODSEND for Classicists and archaeologists in our time. Literally, a time-capsule was left to us to learn more about Roman culture.

Amid the ruins are some truly excellent examples of more styles of wall-paintings. The one at left is a perfect illustration of the Second Style, which was popular from about 80-20 BC and incorporated the larger expanses of a wall, giving it an "open" feel. Also Second Style paintings are loaded with architectural elements. This particular painting from the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, shows fluted columns and what appears to be a louvered door. Ironically,  an actual plaster cast of an original louvered door was preserved in this very villa!

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Second Style paintings often attempted to create illusions. If one looks at the figures in the famous Dionysian wall-painting at Villa of the Mysteries, one can visualize them as escaping from their space, yet also remaining a part of the overall "architectural feel". One other interesting thing is the use of First Style design at the top and far bottom of the fresco.(More marbling!)

If you ever visit Pompeii, the Villa of the Mysteries is not to be missed. And the wonderful thing is that it remains in a more secluded portion of the site, away from cruise ship crowds! 

This fresco was recently restored and the colors simply dazzle. During my visits, I've found it difficult to believe that it's over two-thousand years old.  It's truly a masterpiece of Roman art and speculation remains on whether it's meant to portray Dionysian rites or possibly a wedding. I'll add that this would have been the type of art Marcus Antonius would have been used to seeing when at home in Rome, so naturally, I'm a bit partial to the Second Style! :) 

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Third Style wall paintings, popular from around 20 BC to 40 AD, appeared as though pictures were "hanging" from the walls, while architectural elements were often still emphasized. The sample at right, from Herculaneum, is heavier in the "picture-hanging" than the architectural.






The photo below is Third Style in all of its glory--again from Herculaneum. Walls in Third Style sometimes have stands with figures poised atop them, as in this sample. I've noticed that of all the colors used in Roman wall-paintings, the rich, dark red color, which was eventually entitled "Pompeian Red" was often favored as a background. 

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Below are several examples of the Fourth Style (40-79 AD). They had much in common with Third Style, although textiles and details of buildings, locations, or animals/mythological creatures were common, too. The perspective of something hanging in space was very popular and there were plenty of mythological figures floating and flying! The top sample is from Oplontis, where an Imperial villa once belonging to Poppaea (Nero's wife) was preserved during the Vesuvian Eruption. It's a site worth visiting, as the villa is in an amazing state of preservation.

Much of my information this week was gleaned from Roman Art (1998), a book by classicist, Eve d'Ambra. I'm also indebted for the incredible information I learned under the tutelage of Dr. Christina Salowey at Hollins University.

​Next week, I'm excited to assist my friend and author, Tonya Mitchell in introducing her debut novel, which will launch this fall. Tonya's project is a fascinating expose' on mental institutions during the Victorian Age, featuring the courageous Nellie Bly! Until then, READ ON!