Roman Wall Painting By August Mau

Roman Wall Painting Styles There are four classifications for Roman wall painting styles. These classifications were identified by August Mau, a German scholar. The four styles are chronologically categorized and evolved from each other. The first two styles, incrustation and architectural, were popular in the Republican period and were developed from Greek art. The last two styles, ornate and intricate, were popular In the Imperial period. Incrustation is believed to have originated in Alexandria during the Hellenistic period, around the 3rd century BCE. The paintings produced in this style are known for being colorful patchwork walls of faux-marble. In temples and other official buildings, this style was used with colorful imported marble, …show more content…
However, the central panel of intricate works was larger, with a wide variety of themes, including mythology and landscapes. This style is believed to have been developed by the painter Famulus. An example of intricate style work is the House of the Vettii in Pompeii. Frescoes transform architectural space in many ways. Since frescoes are painted directly on a wall by applying paint to wet plaster, they literally become part of the architecture. Frescoes can be painted to make the texture appear different, or make it look like the wall is made of a different material. This is seen in the incrustation works of faux-marble. Frescoes can also make a room seem a different size by utilizing multiple vanishing points, like in P. Fannius Synistor’s bedroom. The painting in that room uses multiple vanishing points to keep the viewers eye moving and shift the perspective, giving the room added depth. This illusion can also make the room seem like it’s larger. Frescoes also just provide decoration in a room or on a wall. The colors used can change the feeling of the entire room, and the amount of detail work can make a room feel busy or