‘Eye-Like Radiance’: The Depiction of Gemstones in Roman Wall Painting

The study of ornament in Greek and Roman art has been the focus of increasing scholarly interest over the last decade, with many publications shedding new light on the dynamics of ornatus in antiquity, and the discourses that shaped and situated it. Through an analysis of the depiction of gemstones...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arts (Basel) 2019-06, Vol.8 (2), p.60
Main Author: Allen, Ruth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architecture
gemstone
luxury
Mass spectrometry
materiality
Museums
ornament
Roman
Scientific imaging
Society
surface decoration
wall painting
Wyke, Maria
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Summary:The study of ornament in Greek and Roman art has been the focus of increasing scholarly interest over the last decade, with many publications shedding new light on the dynamics of ornatus in antiquity, and the discourses that shaped and situated it. Through an analysis of the depiction of gemstones in Roman wall painting, this article demonstrates the importance of ornamental details both to the mechanics of two-dimensional representation and to the interpretation of the images they adorned. I argue that by evoking the material qualities and sensual pleasures of real precious stones, painted gems served on the one hand to enhance the illusory reality of wall painting, and on the other to extol the delights of luxury and refinement—that is, of ornamentation itself.
ISSN:2076-0752
2076-0752
DOI:10.3390/arts8020060