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039. House of the Vettii. pompeii, Italy. Imperial Roman. C 2nd century BCE; rebuilt 62-79 CE cut stone and fresco.

Form

Covers over 1000sq meters -Shows Pompeii’s late artistic and architectural style -House’s paintings and decoration demonstrate forward-thinking -The layout highlights the public nature of Roman homes

Content

--Wall paintings are called “decorative schema’’ -These paintings cause debate among Art Historians, some say that it represents Pompeii's 3rd to 4th style of painting, and some say that it represents only 4th-style-Pompeiian painting. -Fourth style paintings were expansive and imitated higher art; turned rooms into galleries -The house contains 2 central halls(atria)

Function

-To display the wealth and status of the Vetti brothers -Shows Pompeiian domestic architecture and design -Shows the social mobility of the time; brothers went from a modest lifestyle to very wealthy

Context

Context

Additional Information

--Many wealthy families of Pompeii fled to other roman cities after the 62 CE earthquake -House excavated first from 1894-1896. -2 rooms opening onto the peristyle were still being painted -Brothers got their wealth from being wine merchants -New money wealthy wanted mythological and cult paintings to impress their visitor's