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Incrustation style

Roman art
Also known as: First Pompeian style, First style

Quick Summary

The Incrustation style, also known as the First style of Roman painting, emerged in Pompeii during the 2nd century BCE. This style mimicked the appearance of marble veneers, or crustae, using painted stucco. It was a decorative technique that aimed to imitate the look of expensive stone slabs on interior walls. This style predates the more illusionistic Second style, which sought to break down the perceived solidity of walls by depicting landscapes and architectural vistas. The Incrustation style represents an early phase of Roman interior decoration, focusing on textural and material imitation.1

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