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How were Roman buildings in Pompeii decorated with wall paintings?
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Mural
Detail of Religion, mural in lunette from the Family and Education series by Charles Sprague Pearce, 1897; in the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.
Roman buildings in Pompeii were decorated with mural paintings that evolved through four distinct styles, often utilizing the buon fresco technique, where pigments were applied to damp plaster to become an integral part of the wall surface.12
Evolution of Styles
- First Style (Incrustation): Beginning around 150 BCE, walls were plastered to imitate the appearance of masonry or veneers of colored marble.13
- Second Style: Emerging in the 1st century BCE, this style used illusionistic techniques to "deny" the wall as a solid surface. Artists painted elaborate landscapes, architectural vistas, or stage-like scenes to create the impression of depth and open space.13
- Third Style: Popular during the Augustan period, this style treated the wall as a flat surface, often featuring a central panel picture that appeared to be hung on or inserted into a screen.1
- Fourth Style: Prevalent until 79 CE, this style exhibited varied approaches, including realistic architectural layouts, stage-like backgrounds, or "intricate" designs featuring latticelike patterns, arabesques, and small figure motifs on neutral grounds.1
These decorations often featured scenes from Greek mythology, contemporary rituals, and landscapes.132