Pictorial Workshops in Pompeii. Exploring some Roman Nilotic Paintings

Abstract

From the 3rd century BP onwards, the relationship between Egypt and Rome grew clearer. When the treaty of amicitiawas signed in the year 273 BP, the political, cultural, economic and religious impact on Italian territory was increasingly evident. Also of relevance is the role of the artistic production resulting from the contact between the Roman and Egyptian worlds. The focus of this paper is on several Roman paintings characterised by the depiction of the Nile landscape. In particular, the attention is turned to the records of four Pompeian contexts: Praedia of Iulia Felix (II 4, 2), Sarno Baths (VIII 2, 17), Temple of Isis (VIII 7, 28) and House of the Pygmies (IX 5, 9). By comparing certain iconographic details, the aim of this study is to highlight some analogies in the execution of the paintings examined. On this basis, some hypotheses could be put forward regarding the presence of the same team of painters in the four contexts or, as an alternative, the use of the same models among different artisans.