Exterior decoration - Printable Version

Exterior decoration - Printable Version

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Exterior decoration - Lothia - 06-30-2016

Ave Civitas,

I have a question concerning the exterior of villas and building, both in rural areas and in cities.
Did Romans paint the outside of their houses? Would all homes be just natural plaster color or would they have painted the outsides?

I know they painted statues, painted columns, why would they not paint the street side of houses?
The books I have on Pompii show the interior of buildings. There are pictures of Pompii in my copy of the book, "Pompii", but the only color plates are of the inside.

Any resources you can point me toward?

As always, thanks in advance for your help.

Tom

RE: Exterior decoration - Musivarius - 07-10-2016

I don't know of any books but I seem to recall seeing some museum models, artists illustrations with red up to about 5' and then white. Also there is Wroxeter where they have built a Roman villa and (regardless of the hash of the inside!) they have it as all pale yellow so I assume they have based that on something? I'd be interested to know if you have found any other references.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wroxeter-roman-city/

Ok, maybe 2' not 5' for the red section. I wonder what this chap based his painting on? http://jeanclaudegolvin.com/pompei-2/

RE: Exterior decoration - Lothia - 07-12-2016

Musivarius,

Thanks for the reply and the link. I have found nothing so far. I am looking online for books that might help, but nothing yet.

I asked at UNRV also and no one there seems to know either. Maybe a lime wash was the standard exterior treatment.

Again, thanks.

RE: Exterior decoration - Nathan Ross - 07-12-2016

(07-10-2016, 07:05 PM)Musivarius Wrote: I wonder what this chap based his painting on?

There are preserved exterior walls in Pompeii that show the red/white colour scheme, which seems to have been common throughout the empire. Some of these walls also have the names of political candidates painted on the white part.

[Image: roman-elections-pompeii-1.jpg]