Fresco Fragments

N.257

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Roman Wall Painting

Most fragments were re-studied by Wendy Huggins for a course in Material Culture, taught by J.G. Younger in Spring 2011. The new photographs appear here.

For relief terracottas that probably decorated wall surfaces see N.167-N.170.

N.171

N.171: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thick fragment w deep grooves on back where attached to wall. On red-painted front surface three concentric widely-spaced, preparatory incisions: outermost decorated w greenish stripe across which short stripes for ca half pres length & from which on other h curving stripes extend to broken edge; along central groove pinkish dots; yellowish hollow triangles extend from broken edge to smallest groove. Outside of largest groove pair of white hooks w large dot in center.

Dimensions:Max H pres 10.22 cm.; max W pres 12.1 cm. ; max Th pres 3.87 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.5a

N.172

N.172 : Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Very thick fragment with broad parallel grooves on back where attached; rough gouge running across grooves near one broken edge. Broad band of painted decoration between guide grooves consisting of lyres alternating in direction; exterior of lyre indicated by curving bands larger and facing outward at the top, smaller and facing inward at the bottom with loop extending from lower curve into outer border of next lyre; at the interior base of each lyre, hollow semicircle from which project vertical stripes of ascending height. Decoration painted directly on well smoothed plaster with outline of lyres in green, lower loops filled with yellow with inner half circle and projecting lines red in one preserved lyre, with lower circle filled with yellow in other preserved lyre with projecting stripes in the green of the exterior.

Dimensions:Max H pres ca 16.2 cm.; max W pres ca 19.0 cm.; max Th pres ca 6.9 cm.

photograph: Neg: 9.19

N.173

N.173: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Fairly thick fragment with flat surface where original back preserved. Primary wall surface painted plain green; single decorative ?h/v band pres: background yellow with borders of narrow black red and white stripes with traces of solid black band or panel toward broken edge of one side; within band decoration in black, probably originally consisting of elongated, sword-like elements separated by lozenge-shaped elements terminating in opposing loops.

Dimensions:Max H pres 11.36 cm.; max W pres 10.87 cm.; max Th pres 3.94 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.6a

N.174

N.174: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thick fragment with originally large panels of solid black and solid red on either side of decorative border consisting of band of solid green and slightly broader band painted white with overlaid decoration: abstracted lotus and palmette: lotus flower rising from flanking leaves of green, floral element outlined with narrow black stripe which curves out to form stem of leaves; palmette reduced to a V-shape done in black paint. Back surface probably originally flat, now lumpy and irregular in most places.

Dimensions:Max H pres 16.5 cm.; max W pres 15.4 cm.; max Th pres 3.93 cm.

photograph: Neg: 9.18

N.175

N.175: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Fairly thin fragment with solid yellow background on which a broad h decorative band: above broad black stripe bordered w narrow white stripes below which broader band reserved in yellow of ground w narrow white stripe below & decorated with row of five-petaled palmettes in white on bases consisting of 3 red semicircles in triangular pattern with lower semicircles solid red; at breaks traces of curvilinear elements which connected palmettes in the band.

Dimensions:Max H pres 12.58 cm.; max W pres 6.73 cm..; max Th pres 1.93 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.7a; 9.22

N.176: Fragment Painted Plaster Cornice from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE“ early 1st c CE)

Moulded cornice w sloping face of overhanging upper portion decorated w relief w ivy leaves painted green & red on white background; central section , plain & vertical, painted red & finished w small torus at lower edge, below which green stripe & traces of insloping ?wall surface. No original surface preserved on back.

Dimensions:Max H pres 8.41 cm.; max W pres 13.35 cm. ; max Th pres 3.35 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.8a

N.177

N.177: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Very thick fragment w one panel painted red w above narrow white stripe and broader maroon band & below white band decorated w row of green ivy leaves on curving red tendrils; narrow yellow stripe separates band from black-painted panel below. Flat back surface.

Dimensions:Max H pres 11.22 cm.; max W pres 12.79 cm..; max Th pres 2.74 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.9a

N.178

N.178: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thin fragment w white background decorated w tall leafy stalk in green rising fr yellow stem w opposing leaves; extending from one broken edge to base of plant broad yellow stripe terminating in now damaged device at end; between end of stripe & base of plant traces of additional decoration in red. Fairly flat back surface.

Dimensions:Max H pres 11.07 cm.; max W pres 14.07 cm.; max Th pres 1.86 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.10a

N.179 joins N.599

N.179: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thin fragment w contiguous decorative bands between solid panels of red and black. One band plain green with flanking white and black stripes; other band yellow w inner band set off by narrow brown stripes within which equilateral triangles in same brown paint as border with smaller triangles within solidly painted red & blue and bordered by same brown as border. stripes. Back flat. N.599 joins.

Dimensions:Max H pres 7.02 cm.; max W pres 6.35 cm.; max Th pres 1.29 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.11a

N.180+N.602

N.180: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ? Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thick fragment w white background on which single slender red stalk fr which project on either side green & red blooms on curving red stems. On back widely spaced narrow grooves where attached to wall. Joins N.602.

Dimensions:Max H pres 6.37 cm,; max W pres 13.59 cm.; max Th pres 3.5 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.12a

N.181

N.181: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Thin fragment w white background on which painted pair of broad yellow ?v/ stripes, one of which overlaid w brownish triangles, between which ca square frame composed of concentric stripes: broad red, narrow yellow, possibly originally overlaid w red, broad green with annular green oval in center. Traces of contiguous square on one side & curving black stripe at one broken edge. Back flat w couple of chunks of wall adhering.

Dimensions:Max H pres 13.85 cm.; max W pres 10.36 cm.; max Th pres 1.88 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.13a

N.182: TC Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Fragment of medium thickness with broad green stripe dividing black & red panels. Black panel apparently framed w thin white stripe within which traces of curvilinear decoration in white; green stripe bordered by stripes: one red with narrow white bordering stripes, other apparently plain white. Back fairly flat.

Dimensions:Max H pres 9.8 cm.; max W pres 13.7 cm.; max Th pres 2.0 cm.

photograph: Neg: 8.14a

N.257 (click on photo for a larger image)

N.257: Painted Plaster Wall Fragment from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, Porta Pia (1st CE)

Irregularly fat elliptical-shaped fragment mended from 2 fragments & joined on back w plaster/cement; two large fragments of painted plaster missing from both sides of lower fragment; cracked & worn, w ?whitish incrustation esp on Cupid. Body of Cupid fr just below waist facing l w arms outstretched, probably driving chariot, reins of which around waist; behind figure at armpit h, semi-circular stripe encircling sold :circle below. Various items in backgrd: leafy stalk in front of figure and tendril behind, close crescent above and behind, tendril below.

Dimensions:Max H pres ca 31.0 cm.; max W pres ca 21.5 cm.; max Th pres ca 2.5 cm.

photograph: Neg: 13.9, 10

N.593

N.593: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.594: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.595: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.596: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.597: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.598: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.179+599

N.599: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Joins N.179.

N.600

N.600: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.601

N.601: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.180+N.602

N.602: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Joins N.180.

N.603: Fragment Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

N.610 at left, N.608+N.611 at right, being "painted" with acetone

N.608+611 (click on picture for larger photo)

N.608+611, N.610: 3 Fragments of Painted Plaster from Rome, ?Porta Salaria, ?Porta Pia (Late 1st c BCE - early 1st c CE)

Painting the fragments with acetone revealed that N.608 joins N.611 to depict a winged, horned beast (child?) hovering to left, en face. N.610 has part of the wing of another creature.

Fresco fragments from Rome, Porta Salaria (1st c. AD)