I.8.10 Pompeii. Hospitium dei
Pulcinella.
Excavated 1940.
I.8.10 Pompeii.
Plan.
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici: Vol. I. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 826.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October
2023. Looking west towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking west to
entrance doorway.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking through
entrance doorway into peristyle area 1.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance. Looking west into peristyle area 1.
One of two paintings on the façade showed Mercury with a group of men attired in costumes resembling those of the later Neapolitan Punch and Judy puppets.
The second shows men seated at tables on which are a variety of vases, possibly indicating a taberna vasaria selling vases.
See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.326).
See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II:
Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.42)
I.8.10 Pompeii. December 2018. Paintings found to the east of the entrance façade.
One of two paintings on the façade showed Mercury with a group of men attired in costumes resembling those of the later Neapolitan Punch and Judy puppets.
The second shows men seated at tables on which are a variety of vases, possibly indicating a taberna vasaria selling vases.
PAP inventory number 45622.
I.8.10 Pompeii. December 2018. Entrance façade painting.
Mercury with a group of men attired in costumes resembling those of the later Neapolitan Punch and Judy puppets.
This led Della Corte to name this as the Hospitium dei Pulcinella.
PAP inventory number 45622.
According to Fröhlich,
The figures are dark brown, reddish and light red, the dividing line between the two zones is green, the garland at the top of the picture is green and yellow.
The centre of the upper part of the picture is taken up by two dancing figures, each dressed in an apron and a pointed hat, who stride apart with wide steps, bending their upper bodies forward, spreading their arms wide and holding crossed sticks in each hand. On the left edge of the image is a white-robed figure with a donkey's head, on the right edge a horse or an ox, of which only the hind legs have survived.
In the lower part of the picture, a small figure with a disproportionately large head appears to the right of a table on which a vessel is standing. On the right, a frame stands on four thin legs, from which the legs seem to hang down, perhaps a ferculum.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F5, p.307).
I.8.10 Pompeii. December 2018. Entrance façade painting.
This shows men seated at tables on which are a variety of vases, possibly indicating a taberna vasaria selling vases.
PAP inventory number 45622.
According to Fröhlich,
On the left edge, preserved only in the lower part, stands a female deity in long, belted robe with purple edges, probably Minerva. On her right is a round altar covered with burning sacrifices.
The four men are probably potters shaping vessels on one-legged wheels.
Lower right a female customer is examining two vases. Upper right are the remains of a garland.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F5, p.307).
![I.8.10 Pompeii. 1940. Entrance façade painting in situ. Photo courtesy of SAP.
According to Morelli, "this painting was on the façade wall of 1, 8, 10 and was detached from the wall, before it collapsed. Of it [in 1989] we have only photos and a drawing published by Maiuri, having presumably gone missing. On the one hand it represented a "ludi scenici", with some characters in masks and caps similar to those of Pulcinella (which gave the house its name) and on the other a scene in an artisan workshop, perhaps of a potter. Maiuri considered it not from the last years of the city, as it was found covered by a dense layer of plaster which then fell during the excavation. Therefore, the depicted scene, in the genre of sign paintings, would not allude to an activity practiced in 79 AD, but previously. Judging only by this photo, it looks like painting that is not devoid of liveliness but very summary, rendered in broad strokes of colour only for the outlines of the figures, which have no spatial setting".
See Morelli, V. C., L’insula 8 della Regio I: in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani, Vol. III, 1989, p.190, and fig. 9.](1%2008%2010_files/image011.jpg)
I.8.10 Pompeii. 1940. Entrance façade painting in situ. Photo courtesy of SAP.
According to Morelli, "this painting
was on the façade wall of 1, 8, 10 and was detached from the wall, before it collapsed. Of it [in 1989] we have only photos and a drawing published by
Maiuri, having presumably gone missing. On the
one hand it represented a "ludi scenici", with some characters in masks and caps
similar to those of Pulcinella (which gave the house its name) and on the other
a scene in an artisan workshop, perhaps of a potter. Maiuri considered it not from the last years of the city, as it
was found covered by a dense layer of plaster which then fell during the
excavation. Therefore, the
depicted scene, in the genre of sign paintings, would not allude to an activity
practiced in 79 AD, but previously. Judging only by this photo, it looks like a painting that is not
devoid of liveliness but very summary, rendered in broad strokes of colour only
for the outlines of the figures, which have no spatial setting".
See Morelli, V. C., L’insula 8 della Regio I: in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani, Vol. III, 1989, p.190, and fig. 9.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking towards
north wall of peristyle area 1, with entrance doorway, on right.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
Looking north-west from entrance doorway into peristyle area 1. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2022. Peristyle area 1, looking north-west from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking north
across peristyle area 1, on the right is the kitchen doorway.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north across peristyle area 1, entered directly from the street, without an atrium.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017.
Looking north-west from above room 3, lower
left, towards doorway to room 8, centre right.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking north-west
across peristyle area 1, the doorway to room 8, is on the left.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north-west across peristyle area 1.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2022. Looking towards north-west corner of Peristyle 1. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017.
Looking towards north-west corner of Peristyle 1.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2022. Looking south-west from entrance doorway towards rooms 2, 3 and 4. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking
south-west from east portico.
Foto
Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking west across peristyle area 1 to rear rooms, 8 and 7.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking north to
doorways to rooms 7, on left, and 8, in centre.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Room 8, looking
towards north wall.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005.
North wall of rear cubiculum 8 on west side, which would have shown a simple two-coloured scheme with vignettes of flying cupids in panels, separated by narrow red compartments. The zoccolo was red with painted plants, and the middle zone of the wall was white.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking towards north-east corner and east wall of rear cubiculum 8.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking towards
east wall, on left, and doorway to room 4 in south wall.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east at rooms 3 and 2 on south side of peristyle.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Room 2.
According to Fröhlich, the paintings of the potters and dancers were found to the left of the main entrance, by a door to room 2 that was added later.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F5, p.307).
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking towards
north-east corner of peristyle area 1.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017.
North-east corner of peristyle with doorway to kitchen, and niche on north wall.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Area on north-east of peristyle.
Doorway to underground kitchen, and niche on north wall.
According to Jashemski, on both sides of the door leading to the basement room was a Lararium.
The one on the left was already destroyed at the time of its discovery (the excavations started in the years immediately preceding World War II, were suspended in 1941, and were completed around the beginning of the 1950s).
The one on the right was well preserved, with painting of serpents, altar and 2 Lares, now however, less visible.
The niche is decorated with flowers that have the appearance of poppies.
See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.42).
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Lararium and
niche on north wall.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. Lararium shortly after excavation.
In the middle of the uppermost zone is the niche, where poppies with purple flowers are painted on the back wall.
There were two Lares, one on either side of the niche.
There were two serpents, one rising either side of a round altar.
The horizontal line, on which the base of a round altar rested, was about halfway up the serpent’s body.
The background of the middle zone is formed by oleander-like plants.
The lowest zone is filled by two perennial plants, probably lilies.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L9: p.253, T25.2).
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Lararium niche, painted with red flowers.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Lararium on north wall, on east side of door to underground kitchen.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Lararium. Remains of wall painting of serpent.
There were two serpents, one either side of a round altar.
The horizontal line, on which the base of a round altar rested, was about halfway up the serpent’s body.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Area on east side of niche, with remains of painting of a Lar.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L9: p.253, T25.2).
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Area on east side of niche.
Remains of painting of a Lar. There was one Lar on either side of the niche.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L9: p.253, T25.2).
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. North-east corner of peristyle 1.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Remains of lararium.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017.
Looking north into kitchen from doorway.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Detail of
terracotta pot, near west wall of kitchen area.
Foto
Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Underground or basement kitchen. Looking north from doorway.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking north
across kitchen.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
I. I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Underground kitchen, looking north.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. West side of underground kitchen.
I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Hearth on east side of underground kitchen.
I.8.10 Pompeii. September 2005. Hearth on east side in underground kitchen.
I.8.10 Pompeii. July 2006. Looking towards east wall and site of latrine in underground kitchen. Photo courtesy of Barry Hobson.
I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017.
Looking south to doorway from kitchen into east portico.
Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.