Description

Visitors to the former residences of wealthy ancient Romans cannot help but be astonished by their grand architecture and enchanting wall paintings, still vibrant with cinnabar reds, golden yellows, and deep greens. The beauty and intricacy of these ancient frescoes are showcased in the sumptuous volume Domus: Wall Painting in the Roman House, published by the J. Paul Getty Museum in 2004 and now available in this abridged and affordable edition.

Following an introduction to the Roman domestic ideal that inspired these wall decorations and a discussion of the evolution in painting styles, the author conducts a tour of twenty-eight houses in Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, and the city of Rome. Here are painted scenes—rich with fabulous details of illusionistic architecture, lush gardens, exotic animals, and erotic adventures—impressive in their display of technical mastery and enduring in their visual impact.

About the Author

Umberto Pappalardo is director of excavations at Herculaneum, inspector for excavations at Pompeii, and professor of geoarchaeology at the Istituto Universitario Suor Orsola Benincasa in Naples. 

Praise For…

“As wall paintings from a number of sites are threatened by exposure either to the elements or to looters and vandals, having a catalogue like Pappalardo’s, with Luciano Romano’s excellent photographs, to beautifully document the state of these frescoes in 2009 will be invaluable.”—Bryn Mawr Classical Review

 “Recommended.”—Choice 

 “Essential reading for anyone with an interest in ancient architecture, art history, or Roman history or culture.”—History in Review