Roman Model-Books as a Resource for Digital Architectural Reconstructions

Josef Souček

doi:10.3390/heritage4010002

Abstract

Upon examination of Roman landscape paintings preserved in situ and in museums of Naples and Rome, additional evidence has been found for the additive character of creation of imaginary landscapes as well as evidence for using standardized elements and whole scene compositions in Roman painting. This attitude is compared to the modern way of creating virtual landscapes—computer game level design and the process called “kitbashing”. I propose that both these processes share the same task to create a familiar landscape using a visual language understandable to its contemporary viewer, but also a very similar method of using predefined elements.

Highlights

IntroductionApart from studies regarding the questions of the real-world models for the buildings and landscapes [6,11,12], there have been studies dealing with singular elements that create the whole scene, such as the statues [13], villae [14,15], tower houses [16], naumachia [17], and sacred buildings [18,19,20]
As I believe that this is impossible to change by a scientific article, what is left is to attempt reconstruction of the working process of Roman painters and pinpoint the common areas where the work of modern artists meets with the work of their ancient counterparts and discuss whether this artistic process can be incorporated to scientific reconstructions as defined in this paragraph
At the4b.eCgionnncinlugsoifotnhsis article, I argued that the Roman wall painting was additive in character and Athtathites blaengdisncnapinegcoomf tphoinseanrttsichloew, IedaragluimeditetdhantutmhbeeRr omf thaenmwesa,ltloppiaai,nting was additive which wereinprcohbaarbalyctfearmainlidartthoapteiotsplleanodf tshceapeercioodm, apnodntehnatt sthheoywweedreacloimnsittreudctendumusb- er of themes, topia, ing a univewrsahlilcyhunwdeerrestapnrdoabbalbe lvyisfuaaml lialniagruatogep

Summary

Introduction

Apart from studies regarding the questions of the real-world models for the buildings and landscapes [6,11,12], there have been studies dealing with singular elements that create the whole scene, such as the statues [13], villae [14,15], tower houses [16], naumachia [17], and sacred buildings [18,19,20] Compilation of these studies allows us to decipher the visual language and comprehend the scenes that were most probably immediately clear to the ancient viewer.

Additive Character of Roman Wall Painting

Models and Copies—Results of the Survey

Conclusions