For the very first time one of the large villas of Pompeii is being shown in an exhibition in its entirety. The presentation at the Bucerius Kunst Forum is based on the architectural design of the house. It displays the magnificent décor in its original context. The unusually large frescoes, bronze figures, reliefs and portraits are among the most beautiful works of art found in the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Life in ancient Pompeii and the role of art in daily life can be experienced through more than 80 outstanding loans from the National Archeological Museum of Naples.
Citizens of ancient Pompeii decorated their living quarters with scenes of mythic lovers, floating gods and goddesses and gardens. These murals are among the best preserved examples of Roman painting. The exhibition reveals the development of this imagery from its beginnings to the dramatic destruction of the city in the wake of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The oldest frescoes imitate colored marble; sacred sites, landscapes with villas, still-lifes and scenes from mythology later became popular.
The show will focus on the House of the Lyre-Player, presenting its large paintings and magnificent furnishings for the first time together in an exhibition. Bronze figures, reliefs, portraits and murals demonstrate the luxury and appreciation of art found in the ancient world. The life-sized statue of Apollo with a Lyre, which gave the complex its name, will also be shown. The presentation builds upon the architecture of the original rooms and demonstrates how people in the Roman world lived with their paintings. Once again, visitors can experience this building, which was one of the largest in Pompeii, first hand.
With more than 80 works from the collection of the National Archeological Museum of Naples, this exhibition, curated by Valeria Sampaolo and Andreas Hoffmann, allows viewers to experience the importance of this urban villa, which is one of the largest in Pompeii, for the first time. The presentation of its magnificent décor is based on the architecture of the original rooms and demonstrates the way various areas of the house were used. The murals, bronze figures, reliefs and portraits testify to the luxury and artistic understanding of the ancient world. The quality works of art found in here are among the most beautiful found in this ancient city. Pompeii. Gods, Myths, Man demonstrates the lives of people in the ancient world and illustrates the significance of art in their everyday lives. The show gives an impression of the condition of the house shortly before the volcanic eruption. A digital reconstruction of the Casa del Citarista , which was created in cooperation with the Museo Archeologico Virtuale in Herculaneum, supplements this exhibition.
Source: Bucerius Kunst Forum via Art Daily [September 30, 2014]