Rare Roman Fresco Fragment Birds at Bird Bath

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. A special fresco fragment depicting two birds perched upon the egg and dart decorated rim of a bird bath or fountain. Note how the bird on the left is bowing down to drink some water, while the head of the bird on the right is turned backwards 180 degrees to preen his/her feathers. The avian bodies are naturalistically rendered with plump forms, harmonious anatomical ratios, as well as finely delineated beaks, eyes, feet, and feathery plumage. The artist was particularly skilled at using color and chiaroscuro light effects to model the forms as well as create a sense of depth in the composition. Size: 6.125" W (15.6 cm) Size: 6.125" W x 6.375" H (15.6 cm x 16.2 cm); 7.125" H (18.1 cm) on included custom stand.

The ancient fresco technique involved applying saturated pigments into wet lime-rich plaster, and only the wealthiest, most elite Romans adorned their houses with these elaborate wall paintings which required immense skill to create. Art historians have identified four styles of wall painting. This example aligns closest with the Second Pompeiian Style - also known as the architectural style - which was popular during the 1st century BCE. This style was characterized by illusionism whereby the walls were painted with architectural elements framing compositions that fooled the eye into believing they were real via a trompe l'oeil effects. While we cannot see architectural elements given the size of this fragment, the artist of this piece successfully achieved naturalism in the visual imagery via subtle tonal changes, modeling the figure with color and shading, and suggesting depth with foreshortening.

Another aspect of Roman wall painting to appreciate is the brilliant color palette which contrasts with the white hues of surviving ancient marble sculpture. Scholars have demonstrated that classical sculptures were actually originally brightly painted; however, the pigments have worn away over the ages. Thankfully, ancient wall paintings demonstrate the bold coloration that embellished ancient visual culture. What's more, while some of the most impressive artists of the Classical world were painters, sadly, many of their creations were painted on wood panels and have disappeared due to the perishable nature of this material. Thankfully, other forms of Classical art such as vase paintings, mosaics, and even a few fresco fragments like this example - many surviving from Pompeii and Herculaneum buried under the ash of a volcanic eruption in the year 79 CE - have survived the tests of time and can provide a means of understanding ancient painting techniques.

Provenance: ex- Collection of William Froelich, New York, 1970s

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#152796
Condition Report: A fragment from a larger fresco with losses to peripheries as shown. Surface fissure at upper right. Imagery is scuffed/faded in areas but relatively strong overall.