VIII.5.28 Pompeii. Casa della Calce or Casa di Popidius Celsinus or Casa di Fusco or Casa dell'Imperatore Francesco d'Austria.

Excavated 1815, 1819, 1826, 1838, 1874, 1882 and 1943. (Strada dell’Abbondanza 29).

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VIII.5.29 Pompeii, on left, and VIII.5.28, December 2018.

Looking south to entrance doorways on Via dell’Abbondanza. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Looking south to entrance doorway on Via dell’Abbondanza. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Gell refers to this as the House of Fuscus, on the portal of which was visible the name of FUSCUS.

See Gell, W, 1832. Pompeiana: Vol 1. London: Jennings and Chaplin, p.3.

CIL IV records -

CIL IV 715

in aedibus imp. Iosephi II GELL; immo Francisci II; v. ad n. 43.

   FVSCV..

Gell 1832 I p. 3; cf. II p. 55.

   FVSCVS Gell.

VIII.2.39 Pompeii. c.1832. Inscription in large red letters still faintly perceptible on the blocks of stone at the entrance.

See Gell, W, 1832. Pompeiana: Vol 2. London: Jennings and Chaplin, p.55.

According to Gell –

“The house might derive additional interest from a defaced inscription in large red characters upon the pilaster on the right of the great entrance, where the letters were seen”.

CIL IV records -

VIA DELLA FONTANA DELL'ABBONDANZA.

CIL IV 42

inter n. 28 et 29, in muro aedium imp. Francisci II. In aedibus imp. Iosephi II. GELL male.

M · TVLIV = 0,26 m.

Descripsimus (MZ). Ed. Gell 1832 II p. 55.-    M·TVLLI·V Gell.

CIL IV 43

infra praecedentem colore paulum diverso. In aedibus imp. Iosephi II. GELL male.

   M · MARIV//

   COL…

Descripsimus (KZ). Ed. Gell 1832 II p. 55.

   M MARCI

   PCI

   MAR ·III Geli. - 2 ego vidi solus.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. October 2014.

Looking south-west along south side of Via dell’Abbondanza, from VIII.5.29, followed by II.5.28.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. 7th August 1976.

Looking south-east along south side of Via dell’Abbondanza, with Via dei Teatri, on left, followed by VIII.5.30/29/28 and 27, on right.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

According to Bonucci,

Casa di Fusco – 1819 - Before arriving to the Piazza del Teatro you pass by an infinite number of shops, which attest trade, and the riches of this city. Among them we can recognize, from their exhibition, those where the mosaicists worked. The fountains with beautiful quadrangular marble basins are abundant in this street. Their abundance, and that of wells, reservoirs, and cisterns, as well as the universal use of baths, public and private gardens, and galleries open to the sea attest to the great heat which suffer on this volcanic hill, and the well-understood measures taken to guarantee it. On this street a glass vase with whole eggs was found; and 939 bronze coins.

Fusco's house has a beautiful Gynaeceum, mosaics, and the varied and ingenious decorations in the capricious taste of a stage performer. Fish are depicted in the dining room, and love scenes in the bedroom. Not a few bronze, glass, and terracotta vases were found; two gold pendants, and a piece of pitch, which after so many centuries still retains the smell of that substance.

See Bonucci, C., 1827. Pompei Descritta: Terza Ed. Napoli: Miranda, p. 177.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking south through entrance doorway.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. October 2014. Looking south from Via dell’Abbondanza.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking south across entrance doorway threshold.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Looking south along entrance corridor from entrance threshold. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. December 2004. Entrance.

According to Fiorelli –

10-11. (VIII.5.28/29).

Another house showing two large stone cubes above the pilasters at the sides of the doorway, instead of capitals.

The atrium had 3 cubicula and the stairs to the upper floor, and to the right a storeroom/cupboard, two cubicula and an ala which contained various paintings, amongst which, one showed Wounded Adonis, laying in the lap of Venus, with dog at his feet, and two Cupids at the sides.

Facing the front in place of a tablinum were three wide doorways, which led into the portico of the garden area, having a passageway on the east side leading into the two annexed shops at nos. 16 and 17. In the rear wall of the shop at no.11 (VIII.5.29) was a communicating doorway into the atrium. 

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.163).

This house was described as part of Reg. VIII, Isola Sesta, in the Appendix.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. September 2004. Entrance corridor.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. August 2021. Room 1, atrium, looking south across impluvium. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. September 2019. Room 1, atrium, looking south-west across impluvium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking south-west across atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. August 2021. Room 1, looking south across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking south across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, atrium, looking south across impluvium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium, looking south across impluvium.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. September 2004. Atrium, looking south.

For an Essay on the structure of the foundations of this house, see Maiuri in Notizie degli Scavi, 1944-45, (p.157-159).

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832, sketch by W. Gell of layout of the excavated part of the house.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 47.

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.5.28 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832 sketch by W. Gell, looking south across atrium.

On the left, he identified “The red chamber”, and on the right, he identified “The white boudoir”.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 48.

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.5.28 Pompeii. Sketch, looking south across atrium, described as “at the corner of a road leading from the Forum to the Theatres”.

See Lesueur, Jean-Baptiste Ciceron. Voyage en Italie de Jean-Baptiste Ciceron Lesueur (1794-1883), pl. 70.

See Book on INHA reference INHA NUM PC 15469 (04)  « Licence Ouverte / Open Licence » Etalab

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. Between 1819 and 1832 sketch by W. Gell of cupids, described by him as –

“In the houses of Fuscus and in a green chamber in Street of the Forum.”

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 51.

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.5.28 Pompeii. September 2019. Room 1, looking across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, impluvium in atrium. 

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, stone ball and weight in atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium. Stone ball.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium. Stone weight?

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Looking south-east across atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking south-east across atrium.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. September 2019. Looking south from atrium towards peristyle. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. May 2017. Looking south from atrium towards peristyle. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. 7th August 1976. Looking south from atrium towards peristyle.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.5.28 from VIII.5.29 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking south-west across atrium.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. North-east corner of atrium. Doorways to VIII.5.29 and to room 2.

VIII.5.28 from VIII.5.29 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking south into atrium.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, east side of atrium, with doorways to rooms 2, 3 and 4.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009.

Doorway to room 2, a small room. According to Gell, this room was painted yellow.

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, east wall of small room. 

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, south wall of small room. 

VIII.5.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, door sill in small room.

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