Fausto & Felice Niccolini. The Houses and Monuments of Pompeii

The Niccolinis' publication, "Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei," presented over 400 color plates and offered unprecedented access to Pompeiis private residences, revealing the astonishing painted wall decorations, intricate works of art, and practical utensils of everyday use. It is a major reference in Pompeii research and visualizes daily life in workshops, taverns, shops, public squares, temples, theaters, and baths.

Format: Hardback
Length: 648 pages
Publication date: 02 October 2020
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

In the 19th century, when the excavations at Pompeii were initially established on a scholarly archaeological footing, brothers Fausto and Felice Niccolini were right at the forefront, eagerly ready to respond. Utilizing the newly introduced technique of color lithography, they meticulously documented the buildings, frescos, statues, and even the most ordinary everyday objects of the city that had been buried in just 24 hours by the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius and preserved for over 1,600 years beneath a mantle of volcanic ash. The Niccolinis' overarching goal was to capture the entirety of life in the ancient city. Their publication, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei (The Houses and Monuments of Pompeii), which was released in installments between 1854 and 1896 in Naples, presented an extensive collection of over 400 color plates. These plates not only offered breathtaking views, maps, and ground plans of the city and its public buildings but also provided unprecedented access to the private residences of Pompei. Through their meticulous illustrations, they revealed the astonishing painted wall decorations that adorned these long-buried abodes, showcasing their intricate works of art and the practical utensils of everyday use. This vivid portrayal brought each house to life as a genuine domestic space. In total, the plates showcased more than 1,000 items, each meticulously specified and located for the first time, making the publication a seminal reference in Pompeii research. Furthermore, "animated" representations visualized daily life in Pompeiis workshops, taverns, shops, public squares, temples, theaters, and baths. This meticulous facsimile resurrects the Niccolinis extraordinary achievement, with all color plates and two introductory essays that place the project in its contemporary context and introduce the historical protagonists of the Vesuvian excavations. Additionally, we delve into the profound influence exerted by Pompeii.

Weight: 5518g
Dimension: 325 x 463 x 77 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836556873