Philosopher talking with a woman
Fresco of the Third style from Boscoreale (Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus).1—50 CE.
247 × 120 cm. Inv. No. 70.AG.91.Los Angeles, John Paul Getty Museum, Getty Villa in Malibu
Philosopher talking with a woman.
Fresco of the Third style from Boscoreale (Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus).
1—50 CE.
247 × 120 cm.
1—50 CE.
247 × 120 cm.
Inv. No. 70.AG.91.
Los Angeles, John Paul Getty Museum, Getty Villa in Malibu.
Origin:
Found in 1906 in the Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus, Cubiculum 4, Boscoreale, Italy.
Since 1906 — Giovanna Zurlo-Pulzella (Boscoreale, Italy), excavated on the family property in 1906.
by 1968 — 1970 — Elie Borowski, Polish, 1913—2003 (Basel, Switzerland), sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1970.
Since 1906 — Giovanna Zurlo-Pulzella (Boscoreale, Italy), excavated on the family property in 1906.
by 1968 — 1970 — Elie Borowski, Polish, 1913—
Description:
One of three fresco panels that decorated the same room (Room 4) of the Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus at Boscoreale (see also 72.AG.79.1 and 72.AG.79.2). These frescoes display fanciful architectural compositions on a black background. A figural scene on a yellow background decorates the center of this fresco. The seated man’s unkempt beard, scanty clothing, bare feet, and staff suggest that he is a philosopher of the Cynic school, noted for asceticism and disregard for social norms. He converses with a woman who is probably a courtesan. Some scholars have also identified the pair as Socrates and Diotima, a character who teaches Socrates the philosophy of love in Plato’s Symposium. The painting style, categorized by scholars as the Third Style of Roman wall painting, features small vignettes and elegant ornamental architecture.
The Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus was built in the early first century B.C., and underwent several modifications before it was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A variety of objects were found in Room 4, including bronze vessels, lamps, agricultural tools and the remains of iron weaponry, suggesting that it was used for storage by the time of the eruption. Two marble plaques found in the central courtyard reveal the name of the owner, who came from a well-established family in Pompeii. In contrast to the urban houses of Pompeii and the seaside villas overlooking the Bay of Naples, however, the country estates (or villae rusticae) of Boscoreale were working farms. The estate of Numerius Popidius Florus produced wine, which was stored in large jars partially buried in the courtyard. The house itself was richly decorated with frescoes and mosaics and had a small bath complex. Excavated in 1905—
Literature:
Zurlo-Pulzella, Giovanna. La villa de N. Popidius Florus. Fouillee par Mme. Zurlo a Boscoreale (Pisanella). 1906, pl. VIII.
Della Corte, M. “Scavi eseguiti da privati nel territorio Pompeiano”, Notizie degli Scavi 1921, pp. 415—467, pp. 447—449; fig. 14.
Lehmann-Hartleben, Karl. “Archaeologische Funde in den Jahren 1921—1924”, Archaeologischer Anzeiger 41, 1 (1926), Beiblatt, cols. 11—235, cols. 141—142; fig. 24.
Schefold, Karl. “Lachendes Pompeji”, Gymnasium 67 (1960), pp. 90—102, p. 92; pl. 4.
Schefold, Karl. Vergessenes Pompeji. Bern: 1962, p. 95; pl. 172, 1.
Vermeule, Cornelius, and Norman Neuerberg. Catalogue of the Ancient Art in the J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1973), pp. 42—43, no. 93, ill.
Fredericksen, Burton B., Jiří Frel, and Gillian Wilson. Guidebook: The J. Paul Getty Museum. 4th ed. Sandra Morgan, ed. (Malibu: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1978), p. 41.
Oettel, A. Fundkontexte romischer Vesuvvillen im Gebiet um Pompeji. Die Grabungen von 1894 bis 1908. (Philipp von Zabern: Mainz, 1996), pp. 250—251, cat. no. 21/5c.
Della Corte, M. “Scavi eseguiti da privati nel territorio Pompeiano”, Notizie degli Scavi 1921, pp. 415—
Lehmann-Hartleben, Karl. “Archaeologische Funde in den Jahren 1921—
Schefold, Karl. “Lachendes Pompeji”, Gymnasium 67 (1960), pp. 90—
Schefold, Karl. Vergessenes Pompeji. Bern: 1962, p. 95; pl. 172, 1.
Vermeule, Cornelius, and Norman Neuerberg. Catalogue of the Ancient Art in the J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1973), pp. 42—
Fredericksen, Burton B., Jiří Frel, and Gillian Wilson. Guidebook: The J. Paul Getty Museum. 4th ed. Sandra Morgan, ed. (Malibu: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1978), p. 41.
Oettel, A. Fundkontexte romischer Vesuvvillen im Gebiet um Pompeji. Die Grabungen von 1894 bis 1908. (Philipp von Zabern: Mainz, 1996), pp. 250—
Credits:
(cc) 2020. Photo, text: The J. Paul Getty Museum (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
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 iii third style terzo stile pompeiano dritten stil troisième nemus regale boscoreale numerius popidius florus villa of female dress clothes clothing garment abbigliamento femminile damenbekleidung vêtements pour femmes γυναικεία ρούχα furniture mobile möbel meubles έπιπλα serta garland garlands ghirlanda ghirlandi girlande guirlande γιρλάντα solea sandal sandals sandalo sandali sandale πέδιλα σάμβαλα σάνδᾰλον σανδάλια σανδάλι woman donna frau femme γυναίκα barba barbatum beard bearded man uomo barbuto bart bärtiger mann barbe homme barbu γενειάδα γενειοφόρος άνθρωπος bird birds uccello vogel oiseau πουλί capite velato caput velatum veiled with covered head frux fruges fruit fruits frutto frutti frucht früchte φρούτο architecture architectural composition motive motives motif motifs architettura composizione architettonica motivo architettonico motivi architettonici architektur architektonische komposition architektonisches motiv architecturale architecturaux αρχιτεκτονική σύνθεση imaginary fantasy immaginaria fantasia imaginäre fantasie imaginaire fantaisie φανταστική φαντασία columna column colonna kolonne säule colonne κολόνα στύλος baculum stick randello bastone stab stock bâton bourdon conversation intervista unterhaltung capital capitello kapitell chapiteau on black background su fondo nero auf schwarzem hintergrund sur fond noir prize agonistic vases vase cup cups vessel vessels vasi agonistici vascello gefäß vaisseau seated sitting siede seduta seduto sitzt sitzende sitzender assis assise yellow ochre sfondo giallo ocra gelben ocker jaune ocre klismos chair curved backrest outcurved legs sedia con schienale curvo e gambe curve concavo stuhl mit gebogener rückenlehne und gebogenen beinen gebogene chaise avec dossier et jambes courbes κλισμός philosopher filosofo philosoph philosophe φιλόσοφος talking a inv no 70 ag 91
