The images of Pompeii have given us an unprecedented glimpse into the past. When Mount Vesuvius erupted and devastated the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, time froze. And while there is always the possibility, and likelihood, of artistic license, these images provide us with a well preserved glimpse into how they inhabitants dressed, their habits, beliefs, social environment, and status.
For more information on how these images were created, and the different styles, see the resources at the bottom.
All images are in the public domain, published under creative commons, or published with attribution as requested by the source. Please use the attribution if using the image.
Casa del Centenario in Pompeii
Believed to be the earliest depiction of Mt. Vesuvius
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
House of the Tragic Poet
Casa del Poeta tragico in Pompeii
1st century CE
(Source: Naples National Archaeological Museum / Public domain)
Casa del Chirurgo (VI 1, 7-10-23) in Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
House of Giuseppe II (Casa di Giuseppe II) in Pompeii
Dated to the 1st Quarter of the 1st century CE
(Public domain)
Casa dei Casti Amanti (IX 12, 6-8) in Pompeii
(WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii
Dated to 60/50 BCE
(Source: Pompejanischer Maler um 60 v. Chr. / Public domain)
Osteria della Via di Mercurio in Pompeii
(WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Roman Fresco From the Casa del Naviglio in Pompeii
1st century CE
(Source: Naples National Archaeological Museum / Public domain)
Roman fresco from the fullonica (fuller’s shop) of Veranius Hypsaeus in Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Villa del Cicerone in Pompeii
Work of Dioscorides of Samos
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Image of two middle-class Pompeians believed to be a married couple of equal rank,
notice she holds a wax tablet and stylus showing that she is educated.
Casa di Terentius Neo (VII, 2, 6) in Pompeii
1st century
(Public domain)
Casa dei Dioscuri in Pompeii
62-79 CE
(Source: Naples National Archaeological Museum / Public domain)
Veranius Hypsaeus in Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
“The man on the left is busy brushing wool cloth. The man on the right, standing beneath a caged dome, is engaged in fabric whitening via sulphurized fumigation. An owl is perched on top of the cage, likely a symbol of Athena, protector of the lanaiuoli (i.e. companies of wool merchants).” (Source)
Roman fresco from the temple of Isis in Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Pompeian Fourth Style
45-79 CE
(Source: Stefano Bolognini / Attribution)
Pompeii
(Source: Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0])
Casa del Citarista in Pompeii
10 BCE – 45 CE
(Source: Stefano Bolognini / Attribution)
Roman fresco from the atrium of the Casa del Menandro
Pompeii
(Source: WolfgangRieger / Public domain)
Fresco from the Casa Dei Dioscuri
Pompeii
1st century CE
(Source: CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1359156)
More to come…
About Roman Paintings
Painting Styles of Pompeii http://www.pompeiin.com/en/Painting_styles.html
Roman Painting http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/painting/roman/
The Four Styles of Roman Wall Paintings https://depts.washington.edu/hrome/Authors/ninamil7/TheFourStylesofRomanWallPaintings/pub_zbarticle_view_printable.html