The Pompeian paintings

Transcription

1 The first Pompeian style is one of four "styles The Pompeian paintings (But it would be more correct to speak of decorative patterns) of Roman painting. Said structural style or inlay, ranks in the period from the age sannitica (150 B.C...) up to 80 B.C. This painting technique, widespread both in public buildings and at home, mimics, using in some cases also in the elements in relief putty,the lining of the walls in opus quadratum and marble slabs, said crusta, hence the name "inlay" style. The first style paintings are divided, following a fixed repetition, in three areas: an upper band decorated with jutting stucco frames. a median strip, to his tripartite time, painted with the predominant colors red and black, but also purple, yellow-green, imitating marble, granite or alabastera plinth or base, usually yellow The paintings of this style also contain small architectural elements, such as pillars,for the vertical division of the surfaces. In the archaeological excavations of Pompeii this style is present in the Basilica, in the temple of Jupiter, the House of the Faun and House of Sallustio, in those of Herculaneum in Casa Sannitica.

2 The Second Style. In this type of painting elements such as cornices and friezes with vegetal shoots begin to be painted instead made of stucco, so proposing, with clever optical illusion of colors and shades, that during the first style was realized in relief. Compared to the first style, innovation is provided by the effect of trompe l'oeil that is created on the walls, where instead of the base are painted first podiums floor with fake columns, kiosks and doors behind which there are perspective views. In this period he was born so the figure of the landscape, which, in Pompeii, painting the details of the gardens, in great demand by customers. Vitruvius in Book VII expatiated to describe the painting of the "ancient", identified as that of the first and second style: he quoted it, in order, the marble inlay, then a style unknown to us, with "ledges and riquadrature in yellow ocher ", variously arranged between them. The next style (second) according to him was an imitation of views of buildings, columns and overhanging gables and in the larger spaces, exedras where entire scenes were depicted figurative, tragic, comic or satirical; in the gallery instead they used special paesistici (Seaports, headlands, coasts, rivers, springs, buildings, groves, mountains, shepherds with flocks. Finally cites "megalografie" (a specific person) with statues of gods, mythological tales, Trojan wars or wanderings of Ulysses. It was also in vogue to paint still lifes with game, together with vegetables and fruit; such depictions are explained by a custom that was, send gifts to friends, consisting of uncooked food.

3 In Rome is the oldest of the second style in the Griffins house on the Palatine, dated between 120 and 90 BC In the ruins of Pompeii this style is present in the Villa of the Mysteries and in Obellius homes Firmo, the Labyrinth, the silver anniversary, the Criptoportico. The richest example of this style is however the Villa Boscoreale, dating back after 50 BC, whose paintings are now broken up into more museums (Metropolitan Museum in New York, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, etc.). In Rome there are also the frescoes in the street Pretty House, with scenes of the Odyssey. Villa Boscoreale Villa di Poppea Sabina, Oplontis

4 The third Pompeian style is ornamental style, from chronological point of view, was superimposed on the second style and came up to the middle of the first century, the time of Claudius (41-54 BC).in it was completely overturned the forecast, and the three-dimensional characteristics of the style previous giving way to flat structures with monochrome backgrounds, mostly dark, similar to curtains and upholstery, the center of which were painted in light colors small panels (pinakes) depicting various scenes. Typical are the ornaments with chandeliers, winged figures, plant shoots. House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto, tablinum, Pompei Fresco depicting Diana, coming from Villa Arianna in Castellammare di Stabia

5 The fourth style He said prospective illusionism, established himself in Nero's age and was distinguished from others by the inclusion of fantastic architecture and great scene (House of the Faun in Pompeii and Domus Aurea in Rome). If the above styles are characterized by plausible architectures, the "fourth style" instead (as well as the "third" style), presents the improbable architectures, Two-dimensional and purely decorative, the tract highly calligraphic. Employing an anachronistic comparison, we could compare the "fourth style" frivolity and all 'hyperdecoration of "Rococo. The beginning of this style can be documented in Pompeii, just after 60 d.c.: most of the Pompeian villas They were in fact decorated with paintings in this style after the reconstruction of the city after the disastrous earthquake of 62 D.C. The fourth style is characterized by a great wealth but no new element. It was in fact a revival of elements and decorative formulas already experienced before: back in fashion,in fact imitations of marble coverings, the fake architecture and the characteristic of the second stylebut also the ornamentation with chandeliers, winged figures, plant shoots, characteristic of the third style.

6 Examples of great value Pompeii we find them in the House of the Faun andhouse of Castor, probably decorated by artists from the same workshop. On that latter the Michelangelo frescoes has recently relocated to the wall, the cloning of frescoes depicting Castor and Pollux, the two Dioscuri from which it takes its name Domus. the originals are currently kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples Intervention of the relocation of Castor House, Pompei