ROMAN ILLUSIONISMVITRUVIUS, VESUVIUS AND POMPEII

JOSHUA POSTONPERIOD STYLES

2/23/2015

VITRUVIUS•Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

•Author of De Architectura

•This work is divided into ten books

•Covers Greek through Roman Period Styles

•Describes the artwork in his treatise

MT. VESUVIUS

Pierre Jacques Volaire- 1777

•Erupted in 79 AD•Witnessed and later Documented by Pliny the Younger•Erupted 3 dozen times since 79 AD•Including 1631 and 1913-1944

POMPEII & HERCULANEUM

•700 BCE first traces of settlement

•89 BCE Captured by Romans

•79 CE Eruption of Vesuvius causes Pompeii & Herculanuem to be lost.

•1709 Theatre in discovered will digging well

•1748 First formal excavations at Pompeii

•1763 Pompeii Identified from inscription

FRESCO•There are two primary types of Fresco

•Buon (true) Fresco• Painted using wet plaster• Pigments are absorbed into the wall• No binder is required• Sections are called giornata (days

work)• White is used to lighten pigment

•Secco Fresco• Pigments are mixed with egg

(tempered)• The plaster is also pre-moistened to

simulate fresh plaster• No white is used, more like watercolor

House of Sallust 2nd Century BCE

House of the Faun2nd Century BCE

1st Style: IMITATION OF MARBLE

•200-60 BCE•Decline Coincided with conquering of Pompeii•Meant to appear as expensive construction materials

2ND Style: ILLUSION

Villa of Mysteries

•Early 1st Century BCE•Imitation of Architectural form and Fantasy•Meant to seem real to the eye•Many believed to be copies of Hellenistic Art•Naturalistic Architecture

3RD Style: DECORATIVE SURFACES

•20 BCE to 20 CE•Monochromatic rooms and backgrounds. •May resemble Second Style•Usually raised from the floor •Panel Pictures•Plausible additions to actual architecture

Imperial Palace at Boscotrecase

4TH Style: SYNTHESIS OR INTRICATE STYLE

•Circa 50 CE- 79CE (continues beyond destruction of Pompeii)•Marble Blocks usually form the base and frame, 1st style•Naturalistic Architectural elements, 2nd style•Flat panels of color, thin linear detail, 3rd style•Central Panel Pictures are larger than in the 3rd Style

(Khan Academy)