Death of PentheusDeath of Pentheus

House of the VettiiHouse of the Vettii

The House of the VettiiThe House of the Vettii Unlike many Pompeian houses, this house Unlike many Pompeian houses, this house

has been extensively restoredhas been extensively restored Many wall paintings have been left Many wall paintings have been left in situin situ Gives the visitor the chance to view the Gives the visitor the chance to view the

artwork in its original surroundingsartwork in its original surroundings The The Death of PentheusDeath of Pentheus is one panel of a wall is one panel of a wall

in a room with 3 major mythological in a room with 3 major mythological paintingspaintings

Framed by trompe l’oeil (illusionist) windows Framed by trompe l’oeil (illusionist) windows with views of elaborate buildings beyondwith views of elaborate buildings beyond

The “Pentheus Room” is only one of several The “Pentheus Room” is only one of several rooms in the House decorated with finely rooms in the House decorated with finely executed paintings.executed paintings.

The MythThe Myth Pentheus (king of Pentheus (king of

Thebes) banned the Thebes) banned the

worship of Dionysus in worship of Dionysus in

his kingdomhis kingdom The God took his The God took his

revengerevenge He inflicted temporary insanity on a group of female He inflicted temporary insanity on a group of female

worshippers (Maenads/Bacchantes), including the king’s worshippers (Maenads/Bacchantes), including the king’s mothermother

He induced Pentheus to spy on them on a mountainsideHe induced Pentheus to spy on them on a mountainside When discovered, the Bacchantes tear him to pieces When discovered, the Bacchantes tear him to pieces His mother carries his head into the city triumphantly His mother carries his head into the city triumphantly

only to regain her sanity and discover she murdered her only to regain her sanity and discover she murdered her own son.own son.

StatisticsStatistics

Size: 1.04 metres x 1.04 metresSize: 1.04 metres x 1.04 metres Date: Probably 62-70 AD Date: Probably 62-70 AD Style: Fourth-Style wallStyle: Fourth-Style wall Location: House of the Vettii, PompeiiLocation: House of the Vettii, Pompeii

CompositionComposition Very formal underlying Very formal underlying

structurestructure Four Bacchantes arranged in Four Bacchantes arranged in

roughly diagonal linesroughly diagonal lines Reinforced by Pentheus’ Reinforced by Pentheus’

outstretched right leg (echoes outstretched right leg (echoes that of the woman opposite)that of the woman opposite)

Forms an X shapeForms an X shape Elegant, ordered structure in Elegant, ordered structure in

contrast to the dramatic, out-of-contrast to the dramatic, out-of-control actions of the womencontrol actions of the women

>emphasises the temporary >emphasises the temporary dislocation of reason: real dislocation of reason: real theme of the paintingtheme of the painting

Visual function of the X: direct Visual function of the X: direct attention to Pentheus’ faceattention to Pentheus’ face

All eyes on him, the action is All eyes on him, the action is directed towards himdirected towards him

His own glance is directed back His own glance is directed back along part of the Xalong part of the X

Composition ContinuedComposition Continued Perhaps, significantly, Perhaps, significantly,

the only figure the only figure outside this X shape outside this X shape is that of the woman is that of the woman with the stonewith the stone

It is about to crash It is about to crash down onto his headdown onto his head

It has been suggested It has been suggested that she is his motherthat she is his mother

DepthDepth Strong sense of depth:Strong sense of depth:

-overlapping figures-overlapping figures

-use of fainter lines/colours -use of fainter lines/colours for background figuresfor background figures

Highly structured: Highly structured: woman with rock forms woman with rock forms apex of a triangle. At the apex of a triangle. At the centre, Pentheus himselfcentre, Pentheus himself

The strong horizontal The strong horizontal line made by the arms of line made by the arms of Pentheus and the two Pentheus and the two woman holding him, woman holding him, creates a barrier/fence creates a barrier/fence between the foreground between the foreground and background actionand background action

Emotional ToneEmotional Tone All women look directly at All women look directly at

Pentheus; the painting is Pentheus; the painting is structured so that the strong structured so that the strong horizontal & vertical lines horizontal & vertical lines converge on his headconverge on his head

The weapons are raised. The The weapons are raised. The rock is about to come crashing rock is about to come crashing down, the scene is full of tensiondown, the scene is full of tension

Pentheus is aware that this is Pentheus is aware that this is the moment before his deaththe moment before his death

The formal structure The formal structure emphasises the moment of emphasises the moment of awful realisationawful realisation

A moment of heightened A moment of heightened intensityintensity