Pompeii in Color

The Life of Roman Painting

The gallery exhibition is now closed, but you can still visit our online Pompeii in Color exhibition.

Pompeii in Color: The Life of Roman Painting presented thirty-five frescoes from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Among these important works—all originally from Roman homes—are paintings representing dynamic mythological scenes, inviting landscapes, sumptuous still lifes, astonishing trompe-l’oeil, captivating portraits, and energetic genre scenes. This exhibition presented an exciting opportunity to learn about ancient painting, the tastes and values of the Romans who lived with these works, as well as the techniques used by the artists who created them. Seldom exhibited outside Italy, these remarkably well-preserved frescoes invite us to see beyond the ashes of the tragic city, and instead experience the vibrant world of the ancient Roman home as the Pompeians themselves knew it.

This exhibition was organized by the National Archaeological Museum, Naples and MondoMostre.

Pompeii in Color was made possible by generous support from The Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, and the Leon Levy Foundation. Additional funding provided by Victoria Newhouse.