VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Rear entrance to Workshop and dwelling of Casa delle Grazie, also known as the Apothecaries House or Casa del Cerusico.

Linked to VIII.3.11. Excavated 1817, 1838.

Vicolo dei Dodici Dei, looking south. October 2020.

Doorway at VIII.3.12, on right. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Vicolo dei Dodici Dei, Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking south between VIII.5, on left, and VIII.3, on right. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking south to entrance doorway on west side of Vicolo dei Dodici Dei. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

Pompeii. Vicolo dei 12 Dei, looking south. September 2005. Doorway at VIII.3.12, on right.

According to Fiorelli –

“The house consisted of a yard/courtyard immediately from the entrance doorway from the roadway, around which were the kitchen with hearth and a latrine, a cubiculum, an oecus decorated with figures of four-legged animals, a store-cupboard, and the triclinium lit from the same courtyard by a wide window, decorated with paintings of cupids in medallions surrounded by garlands, marine animals, four-legged animals, and a few paintings now taken away or faded. A doorway in this triclinium linked this house into the preceding shop.”

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.124).

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832 sketches by W. Gell, cupids, four-legged animals and marine animals from this house.

The drawings in the upper left, entitled “Street of the Forum” may not be from this house, but somewhere nearby.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 44 verso.

Bibliothèque de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, collections Jacques Doucet, Identifiant numérique Num MS180 (2).

See book in INHA Use Etalab Licence Ouverte

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance doorway, looking west.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking south from entrance to doorways, on left to kitchen and latrine, and cubiculum, on right.

The cubiculum would have been decorated in the IV Style with a red zoccolo/dado with plants in panels, and with a yellow middle zone to the walls.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii., December 2018.

Looking towards south-west corner of yard/courtyard, with doorway to cubiculum, on left, and into oecus, on right.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. December 2018.

Cubiculum, looking towards south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking west from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. October 2020.

Looking towards west side of yard/courtyard, with doorways to oecus, on left, and corridor across triclinium, on right.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. September 2005.

Looking west from entrance across yard/courtyard towards oecus, and corridor (part of triclinium) leading to VIII.3.11.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. October 2020. Looking west towards doorway to oecus. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

The west and north wall of the oecus can be seen, which still shows some of the red panelled zoccolo painted with plants.

The middle zone was decorated with a yellow background, but the decoration has completely faded and disappeared.

The upper zone was painted white with a simple stucco cornice.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii.

Drawing attributed to Giuseppe Abbate of paintings of four cupids, described as from “the cubiculum in the house in Pompeii with entrance on the roadway called “della Regina” at the rear of the Foro Civile discovered in December 1839”.

The location of the original paintings was already lost by Helbig’s time.

They may or may not be from this house, but Abbate was definitely sketching in the house at this time, 1839/40.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, (644 and 645).

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 1195.

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)

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Pre-November 1856. Drawing by Zahn of four floating cupids with the attributes of Bacchus.

These were found in a room on a yellow background, from a house at the side of the Casa del Cinghiale, discovered in the month of November 1839.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 73.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. October 2020. Doorways on north-west side of entrance yard/courtyard

On the left, the doorway leading to a corridor across the triclinium leading to VIII.3.11 and window into triclinium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north from entrance across yard/courtyard, through window into triclinium.

On the north wall of the triclinium (seen through the window), in the red painted zoccolo was a panel with a painted plant.

The middle area of the wall was painted white.

According to Breton, found in this room was a painting showing Urania pointing at the celestial globe with a baton.

Even in 1870, Breton said it had nearly faded and disappeared. 

The other paintings in the house had entirely disappeared.

The house was named from a painting of the Three Graces, which was also lost.

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin, (p.454).

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards west wall of triclinium, on the left is the doorway to yard/courtyard, and doorway into VIII.3.11, on right.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

West wall of triclinium with doorway into yard/courtyard, on left, and into shop at VIII.3.11, on right.

Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Detail of west wall of triclinium. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024. Site of central painting on west wall. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024. North wall of triclinium, with doorway into VIII.3.11, on left. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Looking north-east along north wall of triclinium. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

North wall of triclinium, with doorway into VIII.3.11, on left, and north-east corner, on right. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024. Detail of north wall of triclinium at east end. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii., December 2018.

Looking towards north-east corner and east wall of triclinium, with remains of central painting and medallions. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024. Site of remains of central painting on east wall of triclinium. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

East wall of triclinium with two painted medallions and window overlooking Vicolo dei Dodici Dei.

Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Detail of medallion on east wall of triclinium in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

South wall of triclinium in south-east corner near window. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Detail of medallion on south wall on east side of window. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Looking south-west along south wall of triclinium and into yard/courtyard. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Looking south-east along south wall of triclinium with window and doorway through to yard/courtyard. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. January 2024.

Doorway in south-west corner of triclinium, leading into yard/courtyard. Photo courtesy of Domenico Esposito.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Drawing by Giuseppe Abbate, 1842, of painting of a cupid riding a dolphin, from an unknown room.

The wording below the drawing reads “Painting found in a house after that of the Cignale in the Strada de’ Mercanti”.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 815.

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)

VIII.3.12 Pompeii.

Painting by Francesco Morelli, of a wall with central painting of Venus and Adonis (Helbig 336).

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 886.

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)

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Pre-1827. Drawing of painting of Venus and Adonis from Pompeii

According to Real Museo Borbonico, vol. IV. Tav. XVII –

“To the right of the Pompeian road that passes by the side of the Crypt of Eumachia, introduced from the Forum opposite the Basilica, a house was found called “del Cerusico” because of some surgical instruments found in the atrium, painted in the middle of the beautiful grotesque style paintings was the painting that we publish here …..”

See Real Museo Borbonico, Vol. IV, tav. XVII.

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832, sketch by W. Gell of painting of Venus and Adonis.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 41.

Bibliothèque de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, collections Jacques Doucet, Identifiant numérique Num MS180 (2).

See book in INHA Use Etalab Licence Ouverte

VIII.3.12 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832, sketch by W. Gell of weeping cupid, seen in the painting Venus and Adonis, above.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 42.

Bibliothèque de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, collections Jacques Doucet, Identifiant numérique Num MS180 (2).

See book in INHA Use Etalab Licence Ouverte

VIII.5 Pompeii, on left.                     Vicolo dei 12 Dei, looking south from Via dell’Abbondanza.             VIII.3.12, on right.

VIII.3.12, on left. September 2005. Looking north on Vicolo dei Dodici Dei between VIII.3 and VIII.5.