VII.4.59 Pompeii. Casa della Parete Nera, or House of Black Wall or Casa dei Bronzi.

Linked to VII.4.8. Excavated 1832, 1837. (Strada della Fortuna 4).

Part 4      Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Plan

VII.4.59 Pompeii. 1840 drawing of mosaic floor, cubiculum x.

See Avellino F., 1843. Descrizione di una casa disotterrata in Pompei negli anni 1832, 1833 e 1834., Napoli, Memorie della R. Acc. Ercolanese III, 1843, Tav II, fig. 5.

See Hanoune R., A and M De Vos, 1985. Gli acquarelli pompeiani di F. Boulanger [Casa dei Bronzi, Casa del labirinto], MEFRA 1985. p. 868, fig. 17.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. November 2012. Looking across peristyle o to exedra or triclinium y (behind the trees).

Detail from photo in Wikimedia, courtesy of author Mentnafunangann.

Use subject to a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Licence.

VII.4.59 Pompeii, 1978.

Pillar reinforced by two engaged columns on south-west corner of peristyle, with exedra or triclinium y at its rear.

Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.  

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J78f0090

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, west wall. The painting of cupids playing with the attributes of Aphrodite can be seen in the centre panel.

See Zahn, W., 1852. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer. Taf II, 53.

According to Curtius there were four paintings each of an identical stylistic layout with the attributes of Hera, Aphrodite, Ares and Athena.

See Curtius, L., 1972. Die Wandmalerei Pompejis. New York: Hildesheim, p. 397-8.

According to Staub-Gierow,

The central images, of which two have survived, the third has partly survived and a fourth, apart from a brief mention by Curtius, is completely unknown, all allude to different gods, but do not depict them. They are each scenes in which cupids and psyches play with the attributes of the gods Mars or Minerva, Juno and Venus. Curtius speaks of four images, and for Hera and Aphrodite gives two of the four pictures and says the other two contain the game with helmet and shield, the weapons of Ares and Athena. Unfortunately, he does not say how he knows the fourth picture. Avellino does not elaborate on the decoration of the exedra. Fiorelli mentions three pictures with sacrifices made in honour of the three goddesses, Juno, Pallas, and Venus who took part in the judgment of Paris. Fiorelli's detailed description of three images and the fact that only these three exist in copies make it doubtful that Curtius really knew four Pinakes. It is entirely conceivable that the image associated by most with Mars could allude to Minerva as well, as Fiorelli claims. If we assume that there were originally four pictures, and then the question arises as to which motif could have been missing. Paris alone is difficult to imagine, especially since he always appears with the three goddesses in the well-known illustrations. In addition, the gods are never depicted in the central paintings, only their attributes - a possibility that cannot be imagined for a Paris depiction. But speculation doesn't help here either: Even if the three known images were to be connected with Juno, Venus and Minerva - instead of Mars - we still don't know how the fourth would be imagined. If we look at the combination of Venus, Mars and Juno, one could imagine an image associated with a Jupiter sacrifice as a counterpart to the one with the attributes of Juno.

See Staub-Gierow, M., 2000. Casa della Parete Nera: Hauser in Pompeji, Band 10. München: Hirmer Verlag, p. 79.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, west wall. 1836 drawing by Giuseppe Abbate of triclinium wall with black background.

According to ICCD, the drawing reproduces a wall decoration in IV style.

The plinth is divided into rectangular panels of various sizes decorated with plant motifs, rhombuses in which leonine heads, cornices, garlands and swans are inserted; there follows the median area composed of side panels with rich floral framing in which groups of figures are inserted in flight and a central panel with "pinax" depicting a scene with sacrificial cupids; architectural scenes with candelabras separate the panels from the central area and statues of divinities, one of which is probably Dionysus, are placed in front of the open door at the base of the architectural wings of the extremities. The upper area is occupied by compartments connected by perforated borders, garlands and trabeations; inside the central aedicula Danae is sitting, while in the others there are offerants and figures in flight.

It was left in situ and has now vanished.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 672.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

Kuivalainen comments –

“The identification of the statue as a young almost naked Bacchus is supported by the whole set of different divinities, along with his characteristic attributes”.

See Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, (p.97, B6).

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, west wall at south end.

Drawing by Giuseppe Abbate, of detail of IV style decoration at south end of west wall.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 671.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, upper west wall at south end.

Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, of female figure with lyre and plectrum.

The same subject in Museo Borbonico XI, tav. XXXI, was signed by La Volpe.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 682.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii, discovered 4th December 1833. Painting by Zahn.

According to Zahn, this is a painting of the flying group, Cupid and Psyche, which was found on the south end of the richly painted west wall which he had outlined in Plate No.53, above.

See Zahn, W., 1842-44. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: II. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 57.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, west wall.

Cupids playing with the attributes of Aphrodite next to a statue of Priapus. From photo by G. Sommer 6552?

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. 

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD, p. 148.

According to Maiuri, the exedra was damaged in the bombing of 1943 and had lost much of its glory.

During the restoration the paintings with the cupids were removed and deposited in the Antiquarium:

See Maiuri, A., 1998 ed., Pompei ed Ercolano: Fra Case ed Abitanti, Firenze: Giunti, p 195-203.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Drawing of Cupids playing with the attributes of Aphrodite next to a statue of Priapus

Found on the west wall of Exedra or triclinium y.

See Real Museo Borbonico, XI, 1835, Tav. XVI, signed by La Volpe.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 674.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Drawing of Cupids playing with the attributes of Aphrodite next to a statue of Priapus

Found on the west wall of Exedra or triclinium y.

Drawing attributed to Michele Mastracchio.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 673.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii. 4th December 1833. Painting by Zahn.

According to Zahn, this is a painting of the flying group, Cupid and Psyche, from the north end of the richly painted west wall which he had outlined in Plate No.53, above.

See Zahn, W., 1842-44. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: II. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 67.

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing attributed to Giuseppe Abbate, of cupid and Psyche from one of the side panels of the exedra or triclinium y.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 680.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing by La Volpe of cupid and Psyche from one of the side panels of the exedra or triclinium y.

See Real Museo Borbonico XI, 1835, tav. LVII.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. 1956, House of the Black Wall, exedra or triclinium y, south wall.

On the wall are two cupid paintings.

On the left are the cupids and psyche sacrificing to Hera.

On the right are the cupids sacrificing to Ares.

DAIR 56.1254. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. 1931, House of the Black Wall, exedra or triclinium y, south wall. On the wall are two cupid paintings.

The painting on the left shows the attributes of Hera and that on the right the attributes of Mars.

DAIR 31.2479. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, south wall. Painting of Cupids and Psyche making sacrifices to Hera.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 20879.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD, p. 148.

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, 1837, a copy of the painting of Cupids and Psyche making sacrifices to Hera.

Found in the Exedra or triclinium y, south wall.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 677.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Painting attributed to Giuseppe Marsigli, a copy of the painting of Cupids and Psyche making sacrifices to Mars (or Athena?).

Found in the Exedra or triclinium y, south wall.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 679.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, 1837, a copy of the painting of Cupids and Psyche making sacrifices to Mars.

Found in the Exedra or triclinium y, south wall.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 678.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, south wall. Painting of Cupids and Psyche making sacrifices to Ares.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. 

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD, p. 148.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, south wall. Old postcard with painting of the wall in Naples Museum.

The orientation of the seated figure and right hand figure with an altar on the floor in the upper wall agree with the DAIR photos 31.2479 and 56.1254 above.

DAIR 72.1405. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, south wall.

Note: The central figure faces right and the other two figures on the upper wall are different to the old postcard, above.

The two paintings in the centre of the side panels are the same, however.

See Zahn, W., 1852. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer. Taf II, 54.

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Exedra or triclinium y, south wall. Photograph by G. Sommer no 6420. Painted wall decoration. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer. 

Note: The figures on this upper wall agree with the upper part of the painting by Zahn, above.

Our thanks to Florian Schmitt for helping us to identify the location of this photo.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Painting by Niccolini from south wall of Exedra or triclinium y. In the centre is a sitting Giove (Jupiter).

See Niccolini F, 1862. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Secondo. Napoli, Descrizione Generale Tav. XXVII.

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, of female figure with offering plate, as seen on upper south wall, on east side of centre.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 681.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii.

Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, of female figure with garland and incense burner, as seen on upper south wall, on west side of centre.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 683.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, south wall. 1886 painting by V. Loria of lower part of the wall.

See D’Amelio, P, 1886. Dipinti murali scelte di Pompei. Naples: Richter, Tav. 7.

According to Curtius the inset painting on the left is Cupids playing with the attributes of Hera.

See Curtius, L., 1972. Die Wandmalerei Pompejis. New York: Hildesheim, p. 396 fig. 215.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. c.1840. Exedra or triclinium y, detail of part of south wall. Drawing by James William Wild.

Photo © Victoria and Albert Museum, inventory number E.4003-1938.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. c.1840.

Exedra or triclinium y, drawing by James William Wild, showing detail of candelabra separating panels on south wall.  

Photo © Victoria and Albert Museum, inventory number E.4002-1938.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. Exedra or triclinium y, drawing by Martin Nyrop, (1849-1921).

Photo © Danmarks Kunstbibliotek, Martin Nyrop 1849-1921 Skitsebog nr. 46 : Italien, Pompeii, inventory number 53680, pl. 6.

VII.4.59 Pompeii. 1840 drawing of mosaic floor, triclinium z.

See Avellino F., 1843. Descrizione di una casa disotterrata in Pompei negli anni 1832, 1833 e 1834., Napoli, Memorie della R. Acc. Ercolanese III, 1843, Tav II, fig. 6.

See Hanoune R., A and M De Vos, 1985. Gli acquarelli pompeiani di F. Boulanger [Casa dei Bronzi, Casa del labirinto], MEFRA 1985. p. 868, fig. 17.

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