Pompeii
Villa of P. Fannius
Synistor
Boscoreale
c. 60 B.C.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
A painting of comic scenery for the stage uses the theme of the closed door but penetrates deep into an architecturally sound space....
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House of Poseidon and Amphitrite
Herculaneum
c. 70
The wall mosiac, known as opus musivum, became popular in the first century A.D. and primarily decorates grottoes and fountains. The brilliant mosaic of Poseidon and Amphitrite is on the wall of the nymphaeum. A formal architectural setting surrounds the figures....
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Villa of the Mysteries
Pompeii
c. 50 B.C.
Near the end of the frieze the initiate kneels for the ritual flagellation. The beautiful nude figure of Bacchante dances willy....
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Villa Oplontis
Pompeii
Mid-lst century B.C.
A handsome portico surrounds this large villa which was built in the mid-first century B.C. The garden entrance to the great salon is supported by two large columns....
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Villa of the Mysteries
Pompeii
c. 50 B.C.
Notice the decorative brickwork in these columns....
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House of the Vettii
Pompeii
The lararium is a shrine to the spirits of the house, also associated with ancestors, household gods, and the emperor. The serpent, frequently represented, approaches a small altar as three young men drink and dance above....
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House of the Vettii
Pompeii
c. 70
These side panels have airy architectural scenes set into elaborately painted borders. The dining room is named after a large painting of Pentheus as he is being torn apart by maenads. Other mythological scenes are in panels adjacent to architectural views....
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House of the Vettii
Pompeii
After 70
This complicated fourth style dining room, possibly a reception room, has large mythological paintings set within the middle panels as well as small mythological figures dancing within white panels with delicate ornamentation. Alternating window scenes create another dimenion. The base is made to appear like ma...
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House of the Vettii
Pompeii
c. 62
A small portion of the black band elegantly ornamented....
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House of the Vettii
Pompeii
c. 62
The large garden hall off the peristyle contains some of the most refined painting of the early fourth style. Black bands break up the large red areas and these bands are delicately decorated. For the first time figures are introduced to the band at the base of the wall. In the upper area above the middle zone, a ...
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