Herculaneum was a peaceful seaside town in the Bay of Naples, smaller in size to Pompeii, but wealthier and more prosperous. Its inhabitants were engaged in fishing, trade and other maritime activities. It was nestled in the innocent shadow of Mount Vesuvius, until violently and without warning, the volcano erupted in 79 AD. Life abruptly came to a halt, and the successive pyroclastic flows that engulfed the town simultaneously destroyed and preserved its buildings, shops and public spaces.
Among the items that were remarkably preserved were frescoes and mosaics dotting lavish villas and residences. Visit Herculaneum today, and you can still see impressive wall art adorn the houses. Get ready to behold frescoes and mosaics in all their richness and significance!
The art of fresco involves applying paint and pigment on wet plaster. This plaster can comprise a mixture of slaked lime, wet sand and crushed marble to offer a fine finish. Once this mixture is semi dry, depressions, carvings and molds can be made to create door frames or elaborate ceiling motifs. This technique is called stucco.
Before this mixture is fully dry, incisions are made to create the outlines of the artworks. Paint is then filled in to create the final fresco. After the fresco is dry, a second coat of plaster is applied in pastel colors to add definition to the painting.
Mosaics are intricate and striking artworks created by arranging small, colorful pieces of marble, glass and stone, known as tesserae, into intricate patterns and images. These tesserae are then positioned to form scenes and geometric patterns on walls, floors, etc. In Herculaneum, these mosaics are found both in the residences as well as public spaces like the Thermal Baths. Ancient Roman mosaics were uneven and embossed, and occasionally even placed in different angles to catch the sunlight.
Perhaps the most iconic and striking of the mosaics found in Herculaneum, the mosaic found inside the House of Neptune and Amphitrite depicting the god and his wife is still vivid and clear in its blues and deep reds. Neptune is holding a trident, standing beside his scantily clothed wife. In fact, visitors can directly see the mosaic before they even enter the house. The mosaic is made with glass paste and lined with sea shells to cohere with the ocean theme.
Many frescoes and mosaics found here are derived from Greek and Roman mythology. Popular figures include Hercules, Neptune, Achilles, Triton, Isis and more. These mythological characters also found themselves in sculptures and busts.
Another theme that was present across wall art were architectural and food themes. Many still lifes depicting fruit, animals, dining scenes, etc. were popular in Herculaneum. Ornate gateways and arches, decorative friezes, etc. demonstrated their preoccupation with architecture and fine living.
Due to the successive pyroclastic flows that surged down Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the combination of volcanic ash and the absence of oxygen helped to slow down the decay process, preserving organic materials and delicate artworks. The pigments and stone work were entombed in the ash, preserving their color and constitution.
Not all frescoes and mosaics are visible to the public in the ruins today. Many have been shifted to the Naples Archeological Museum. However, popular ones, like the mosaic found in the House of Neptune and Amphitrite can still be found in situ, or on site today.
Catch the most iconic ones like the mosaic of Neptune and Amphitrite in the House of Neptune, the black-and-white mosaic in the women’s baths, the frescoes in the House of the Bicentenary and the numerous other frescoes relocated from Herculaneum to the National Archeological Museum of Naples.
The refrainment from adding unnecessary chemicals and pigments to existing frescoes, weather proofing the buildings and retouching the frescoes in a highly controlled manner are some of the strategies used to preserve the frescoes and mosaics at Herculaneum.
These frescoes and mosaics lend excellent insights into the preoccupations and themes popular at the time. For instance, since many of the frescoes were found inside dwellings, we could conclude that home owners took great care in furnishing their houses with rich materials spanning diverse motifs like food, myth, etc. — symbolizing their wealth, education and social status. In this way, we can also understand the progression of Herculaneum history over time.
Apart from their captivating beauty, these artworks are important sources of understanding where we come from. They provide insights into how life was back then and is a statement to how we have evolved as human beings. It also helps us compare the range of materials used and artistic techniques employed then vs. now.
