VI.8.22 Pompeii. Casa della Fontana Grande or House of the Large Fountain

or Casa della prima Fontana a mosaico or House of Helvius Vestalis.

First excavated 1826.

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VI.8.22 Pompeii. January 2019. Looking west across tablinum towards fountain in garden area. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking west through the tablinum to the large fountain.

According to PPM –

“Il tablino (12), che presenta un mosaico di II stile, era affiancato dal triclinium (16) in cui si vide un quadretto con rappresentazione teatrale simile a quella della Casa del Poeta tragico VI.8,3/5, (gia rovinato all’epoca dello scavo), e dallo oecus (11) comunicante anche con lo xystus porticato (10) nel cui fondo si trova il ninfeo.”

(trans. “The tablinum which has a mosaic of II Style, was flanked by the triclinium (16) in which we saw a picture with a theatrical representation similar to that of the House of the Tragic Poet VI.8.3/5, (already ruined at the time of the excavation), and by the oecus (11) also communicating with the garden portico (10) at whose rear, the nymphaeum was found”).

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. IV (4). Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p.613.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. About 1845. Old drawing looking west through the tablinum to the large fountain.

On the left is an oecus with a doorway in the south wall of the tablinum, at its west end.

See Zuccagni Orlandini, A., 1845. Atlante Illustrativo ossia raccolta dei principali monumenti italiani antichi, del medioevo e moderni e di alcune vedute pittoriche: Vol III: Regno delle due Sicilie. Firenze, Tav. XXII, n.2.

According to Fiorelli –

“Il tablino con pavimento di musaico bianco inquadrato da meandro, e con decorazione di animali ed Amorini, ha da un canto un triclinio, sulle cui pareti era figurata una scena di commedia: dall’altro lato un oecus con uscita nel portico, ed una seconda scaletta, …………”

(trans: “The tablinum with white mosaic floor edged with meanders, and with decoration of animals and Cupids, has on one side a triclinium, on whose walls was figured a scene of comedy: on the other side an oecus with exit into the portico, and a second stairway, ............"

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.62)

According to Real Museo Borbonico –

“The tablinum. This room was richly decorated with grotesques, above a beautiful background of light blue color, framed by red, yellow and white compartments.

In this tablinum are various remarkable paintings of Cupids expressing various states and occupations of human life, such as pastoralism, hunting, agriculture, which will be published in subsequent issues.

There was another room adjacent to the tablinum.

Another room that communicates through a doorway with the right ala of the atrium, and through another doorway with the peristyle, was also decorated. In this room was found the painting of Comedy.”

See Real Museo Borbonico, Vol. IV, 1827. TAV. XLVIII, XLVIX, and L (p.17 and 18).

VI.8.22 Pompeii. c.1830. Painting by Gell of decoration in the tablinum.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website https://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Drawing by Zahn of Cupids milking goats, seen in tablinum.

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. XXXIV.

According to Breton –

“At the rear of the atrium, between the two alae, is the tablinum which was decorated with gracious paintings representing deer pulling a chariot, Cupids fighting animals or milking a goat.  The floor, in white mosaic framed by a beautiful black meander, is well preserved.  In the exedra, next to the tablinum, is a theatrical painting, and whose composition has much analogy with that of the famous mosaic of the poet's house: Mr. Bonnucci believes he could recognize a scene from Plautus' Miles: this painting is nearly entirely erased.”

See Breton, Ernest. 1855. Pompeia, decrite et dessine : Seconde édition. Paris, Baudry. (p.267)

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Oecus on south side of tablinum, looking towards the south wall with remaining decoration. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Oecus on south side of tablinum, looking towards the west side. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Oecus on south side of tablinum, looking towards north wall and doorway at its west end, on left. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 13, looking north-west across mosaic flooring in tablinum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 13, south-east corner of mosaic floor in tablinum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Room 13, looking north-east across mosaic in tablinum, towards atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii, but shown as VI.8.20 on photo. Pre-1937-39.

Room 13, looking north-east across mosaic in tablinum, towards atrium.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 890.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, mosaic floor in tablinum.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Room 13, looking west across north side of mosaic floor in tablinum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Room 13, looking south-west across floor in tablinum towards doorway to oecus. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. January 2019.

Looking east from tablinum across atrium towards entrance doorway onto Via di Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, tablinum, looking east across atrium towards front entrance doorway.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Looking north from portico of peristyle towards doorway to triclinium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. January 2017. Detail of capital at top of column in portico.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Doorway to triclinium, looking north from portico of peristyle. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Triclinium, looking towards south-west corner and window onto garden area. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. c.1830. Sketch by Gell, and description of room –

“In the House of the Fountain of Shells. Pilasters or jambs of door inside of room right of portico in garden black with red and yellow divisions or flutings.

Room yellow with red borders. Base and under window all red. 2 pretty female figures high up. Chamber of Punch.”

Note: Although Gell clearly says he is talking about the house of the fountain of shells, his drawing of this vase appears to match his drawing in the fullonica, see VI.8.20.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website https://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Pre 1836. Drawing by Gell called “Comic sketch”.

He wrote –

“This probably represents a scene in some well-known and popular comedy, though there seems nothing so characteristic as to enable us, at this distance of time, to point out exactly to what it alludes. The principal actor in the mask would seem to be what the Italians now call a buffo. This is in the House of the Fountain of Shells.”

See Gell, W and Gandy, J., 1880. Pompeii, its destruction and re-discovery. New York: Worthington.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Drawing by Zahn of “Comedy scene”, similar to the Gell one above.

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. XXXI.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Pre 1827. “The Comedy” found in the triclinium.

See Real Museo Borbonico, vol. IV, 1827, pl. XVIII.

(Note: From the Plan in Real Museo Borbonico, Vol. IV, Tav XLVIII, No.65, (p.17), showing insula VI.8, this would seem to agree that “The Comedy” was found in the triclinium of VI.8.22).

No. 65. Altra stanza che per una porta comunica con l’ala destra dell’Atrio, per un'altra col peristilio, pure vagamente dipinta. In questa stanza si era trovata la pittura di Commedia pubblicata colla Tavola XVIII del volume III, (dovrebbe leggere il volume IV).

(No.65. Another room that communicates with the right ala of the atrium through a doorway, another with the peristyle, also vaguely painted. In this room was found the painting of Comedy published with Plate XVIII of volume III.), (should read volume IV).

According to both Breton and PPM, this painting was already ruined at the time of the excavation.

“In the exedra/triclinium, next to the tablinum, is a painting representing a theatrical repetition, and whose composition has much analogy with that of the famous mosaic of the House of the Tragic Poet: Mr. Bonucci thinks he recognizes a scene from Plautus' Miles: this painting is almost completely erased.” 

See Breton, Ernest. 1855. Pompeia, decrite et dessinée.  Paris, (p.267)

According to PPM –

“The tablinum (12), which shows a mosaic of the II style, was flanked by the triclinium (16) in which a painting with a theatrical scene was seen, similar to that in the House of the Tragic Poet (VI.8.3/5), the painting was already ruined at the time of the excavation .....”

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. IV (4). Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 613.

Zahn listed pl. XXXI (Actor), XXXII (Floating figure with wings), XXXIII (Figure with amphora/jug), and XXXIV (rural scene with cupids milking goats) as all being from the Fullonica, so the following Zahn drawings may be from VI.8.22, or VI.8.20 or even VI.8.21, as perhaps as it was being excavated it was all thought of as being the same house.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Drawing by Zahn of flying figure.

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. XXXII.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. Drawing by Zahn of flying figure with amphora/jug.

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. XXXIII.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Triclinium, looking towards window in west wall overlooking garden area. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards window in west wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards remains of column in west wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Triclinium, looking towards north-west corner and remaining decoration on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards north-west corner and north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 12, north wall of triclinium.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 12, north wall of triclinium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.  Detail of stucco decoration on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards south-east corner and doorway to atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, looking towards south wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017.

Triclinium, detail of west end of south wall, near doorway to portico of peristyle. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. May 2017. Triclinium, detail of east end of south wall, near doorway to atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 12, triclinium. Looking east along south wall towards doorway to atrium.

VI.8.22 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to triclinium, from north-west corner of atrium in west wall of ala.

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