Woman with wax tablets and stylus (so-called “Sappho”)
Fresco of the Fourth style from Pompeii (VI Insula Occidentalis).55—79 CE.
H. 37 cm, W. 38 cm. Inv. No. 9084.Naples, National Archaeological MuseumPhoto by Marie-Lan Nguyen
Woman with wax tablets and stylus (so-called “Sappho”).
Fresco of the Fourth style from Pompeii (VI Insula Occidentalis).
55—79 CE.
H. 37 cm, W. 38 cm.
55—79 CE.
H. 37 cm, W. 38 cm.
Inv. No. 9084.
Naples, National Archaeological Museum
(Napoli, Museo archeologico nazionale).
Origin:
Pompeii, 24.05.1760.
Description:
Tondo of Woman with wax tablets and stylus (so-called “Sappho”), National Archaeological Museum of Naples (inventory no. 9084). Roman fresco of about 50, from Pompeii (VI, Insula Occidentalis) — Discovered in 1760, is one of the most famous and beloved paintings, commonly called Sappho. Actually portrays a high-society Pompeian woman, richly dressed with gold-threaded hair and large gold earrings, bringing the stylus to the mouth and holding the wax tablets, notoriously accounting documents which therefore have nothing to do with poetry and even less with the famous Greek writer.
Tondo di Donna con tavolette cerate e stilo (cosiddetta “Saffo”), Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (inv. nr. 9084). Affresco romano, del 50 circa, da Pompeii (VI, Insula Occidentalis) — Rinvenuto nel 1760, è uno degli affreschi più noti ed amati, comunemente detto Saffo. Ritrae in realtà una fanciulla dell’alta società pompeiana, riccamente agghindata con una retina d’oro sui capelli e grandi orecchini d’oro; essa porta lo stilo alla bocca e tiene in mano le tavolette cerate, notoriamente documenti contabili che dunque nulla hanno a che vedere con la poesia e ancor meno con la famosa scrittrice greca.
Credits:
Keywords: ζωγραφικήί pictura ars picturae painting pittura malerei peinture φρεσκογραφία τοιχογραφία νωπογραφία wall fresco frescos frescoes opera parietale murale opere parietali murali affresco affreschi freskomalerei frischmalerei wandmalerei fresko fresken fresque fresques pintura mural ρωμαϊκές roman romana romano romani römisch römische römisches römischen römischer romain romaine romains romaines τέταρτο στυλ fourth style iv quarto stile pompeiano vierte vierter stil quatrième πομπηία pompeii pompeian pompei pompeji pompeianischen pompejanischen pompéi pompéien απεικόνιση portrait portraiture ritratto ritrattistica porträtmalerei porträt ελληνική φιγούρα greek figures greeks figura greca figure greche greco greci griechische figur figuren grieche griechen grecque grecques grec grecs ψαπφώ ψάπφω σαπφώ sappho poetess poet poetessa saffo dichterin poétesse of a woman female femminile donna weibliches frau de femme paint dipinto gemalte hairdo hairstyle pettinatura acconciatura weibliche frisur coiffure féminine θηλυκό χτένισμα girl young ragazza mädchen mädel jeune fille κοπέλα earring earrings orecchino orecchini ohrring ohrringe boucle d’oreille so-called cosiddetto considerato sogenannt sogenannte soi-disant pseudo το λεγόμενο medallion medaillon medaglione médaillon tondo book libro buch livre βιβλίο stilo stilus stylus στύλος golden hair net hairnet rete di capelli d’oro cuffia dorata goldenes haarnetz filet cheveux d’or tetraptichos tetraptychos vi insula occidentalis inv no 9084
