The present work illustrates fragments of marble intarsia that have never been published: the top... more The present work illustrates fragments of marble intarsia that have never been published: the top of a one-foot table, some crustae representing animals and a portion of acanthus scrolls. They come for sure, or most likely, from Pompeii, and allow to increase the current knowledge of the roman art in multi-stone covering by identifying, on one hand, a new iconographic star theme and, on the other hand, by demonstrating that on the I century also walls were decorated with inlaid plant motifs. The table top provides a new evidence of the Hebrew presence in ancient Pompeii.
Some crustae in coloured marbles with wavy margins came to light in a room of the Palatine sector... more Some crustae in coloured marbles with wavy margins came to light in a room of the Palatine sector of the Domus Transitoria, built for Nero. An examination of the very few analogous relics found in other contexts dating from the Roman imperial era, and comparison with the workmanship found on some smooth column shafts, indicate that in general these crustae were used to carry out restoration on damaged slabs of wall facing, whether plain panels or those featuring intarsio work. However, the specific features of some of the crustae, together with a well known passage in Pliny and evidence from painting dating from the same years, induce us to advance another hypothesis. They were intended to be mounted as opus sectile, either as part of intarsio panels or directly in the mortar, in order to create the effect of polychrome marbles featuring colouring and texturing which were entirely artificial. Seneca mentions such artefacts as being among the most extravagant luxuries of his age; to date the only specimens known to us come from the reign of Nero and from his personal urban residence.
The present work illustrates fragments of marble intarsia that have never been published: the top... more The present work illustrates fragments of marble intarsia that have never been published: the top of a one-foot table, some crustae representing animals and a portion of acanthus scrolls. They come for sure, or most likely, from Pompeii, and allow to increase the current knowledge of the roman art in multi-stone covering by identifying, on one hand, a new iconographic star theme and, on the other hand, by demonstrating that on the I century also walls were decorated with inlaid plant motifs. The table top provides a new evidence of the Hebrew presence in ancient Pompeii.
Some crustae in coloured marbles with wavy margins came to light in a room of the Palatine sector... more Some crustae in coloured marbles with wavy margins came to light in a room of the Palatine sector of the Domus Transitoria, built for Nero. An examination of the very few analogous relics found in other contexts dating from the Roman imperial era, and comparison with the workmanship found on some smooth column shafts, indicate that in general these crustae were used to carry out restoration on damaged slabs of wall facing, whether plain panels or those featuring intarsio work. However, the specific features of some of the crustae, together with a well known passage in Pliny and evidence from painting dating from the same years, induce us to advance another hypothesis. They were intended to be mounted as opus sectile, either as part of intarsio panels or directly in the mortar, in order to create the effect of polychrome marbles featuring colouring and texturing which were entirely artificial. Seneca mentions such artefacts as being among the most extravagant luxuries of his age; to date the only specimens known to us come from the reign of Nero and from his personal urban residence.
Uploads
Papers
Books