Enchanted Landscapes

The sumptuous villas of Ancient Rome; the grand reception halls, sleeping chambers and salons painted with scenes on fresco panels, ranging from the delightful to the mythological. Within the paintings are images of Bacchus, Pan, Apollo and Neptune. There are land- scapes, grand architecture, erotica, frolicking birds, dolphins and mythical beasts, which adds to the enchantment.

The paintings that decorated the walls of palaces, town and country homes, tombs, public buildings and temples in Rome and Campania from the Second Century BC to the First Century AD is of unique importance. They have intrinsic value as works of art, and are practically the only surviving examples of the famous lost paintings of classical antiquity. These works
 of art provide a vivid reflection of daily life in ancient times; through them we gain insight into the aesthetic experience of Rome and are able to see which themes were considered important in Roman society. Classical myths, elements from 
the theater, genre scenes, still lifes and sacred landscapes - all are depicted on the wall paintings. 

The few paintings that survived in Rome, Ostia and their surroundings also reflect contemporary developments, following 
the same evolution as the Campania examples. In their range of subjects and styles, the works from the two regions 
illustrate the evolution of the art form of paramount importance; the interior decoration of the Roman villa. 

Our knowledge of the greatness and tremendous variety of these works is due to a tragic event. On the 24 August, 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Campania province under layers of ashes, mud and lava. It was this disaster that preserved most of the examples of wall paintings known to us today. The superb mural decorations of the villas, of Pompeii. Herculaneum, Stabiae, Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, and Oplontis remained covered until regular excavations
 began in the eighteenth century, continuing to this day.