Very interesting is research into the imagination of the ancients which must have been the origin of several decorative tendencies (i.e. styles). Important research in this field has been done by K. Schefold, whose theories, however, being too much related to the sometimes (considered) religious content of the wall painting scenes, have to remain hypothetical, but which were the first attempts to an interpretation of various fashions of wall painting.

The First and Second Styles suggest the respresentative ambiance of the Hellenistic royal palaces. In the Second Style, sacred (especially Dionysiac) motives begin to be of some importance. The emphasis, however, lies on showing off precious materials, f.e. types of marble and precious metals. In the late Second and especially Third Styles, a moralising aspect comes up: the mythological themes of figural pieces in one and the same room are chosen in a way that they form a comprehendable unity and can function as an example, because of their thematic symmetry. In the Fourth Style, all elements mentioned above are important.

In later periods, it was especially the Fourth Style, which was considered important as an example. Towards the end of the 15th century, the remains of the Domus Aurea Neronis were discovered. The decorations on the ceilings of this building were of big influence on Rafael and his school. A new impuls was given to the development of art by the discovery of Herculaneum (in 1738) and Pompeii (in 1748). The inspiration of ancient Roman wall decoration lasted until the second half of the 19th century.

Literature:

K. Schefold, Pompejanische Malerei. Sinn und Ideengeschichte, Basel, 1952.

K. Schefold, La Peinture pompéienne, coll. Latomus 108 (1972).

A. Borbein, Zur Deutung von Scherwand und Durchblick auf den Wandgemälden des zweiten pompejanischen Stils, Neue Forschungen in Pompeji, Recklinghausen, 1975, 61-70.

H.G. Beyen, Klassieke en nieuwere schilderkunst, Amterdam, 1956.

N. Dacos, La découverte et la formation des grotesques à la Renaissance, London-Leiden, 1969.

P. Werner, Pompeji und die Wanddekoration der Goethezeit, Muenchen, 1970.

Tanaquil