Studies in Classical Archaeology 14
In the Roman world, wall paintings were one of the most pervasive art forms, adorning buildings of all levels, from public spaces and elite houses to far more modest dwellings. Yet despite the very visual nature of their work, Roman painters have remained largely invisible to history. This book attempts to rectify this situation by shifting the focus from the paintings themselves to the people who realized them, looking beyond the bright colours and imaginative forms to investigate the materials, production practices, and choices underpinning artistic decisions.
Painting Pompeii Painters, Practices, and Organization
Taking Pompeii as its starting point, this volume reconstructs what it meant to paint for a living, and asks if it was actually possible to make a living as a painter in the Roman world. Wall paintings are investigated stylistically but also from an ethnological and economic point of view. Broader comparisons across time and space, combined with a quantitative analysis of the labour involved in making wall paintings, allow the author to assess this art form as an economically-embedded practice. Through this unique approach, the volume exposes the social and economic forces underlying craft production, and offers new insights into the lived experience of Roman artisans. Cover image: Pompeii, Casa dei Pittori al Lavoro, detail. Photo by the author. Reproduced with the permission of Ministero della Cultura – Parco Archeologico di Pompei. Reproduction or duplication by any means is strictly forbidden.
studies in classical archaeology
This series provides in-depth research into all aspects of the material culture relating to ancient Greece, Rome, and the neighbouring communities of the Mediterranean and the Near East. Comprising monographs and edited collections, the series takes a focused approach to a broad range of topics. It offers new insights into both the Classical world and its broader geographical and chronological contexts, exploring regions and time periods that have often been considered peripheral —whilst retaining an emphasis on the understanding of material culture from the perspective of classical archaeology.
Francesca Bologna