Some Roman Stucco Reliefs from Pozzuoli now in the British Museum

Abstract

In 1956 the British Museum acquired on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum a series of eighteen stucco reliefs of the kind used by the Romans in the interior decoration of walls and vaults: these were bought in 1078, together with a terracotta relief, and were all ascribed to a ‘Greek tomb of the second century B.C. lately discovered in South Italy.’ They appear as follows in the British Museum Register of Antiquities:1. In relief foreparts of Griffin facing right, ending in short twisted tail. Background painted red. 35 × 39·5 cm.2. In relief foreparts of panther facing left, ending in short twisted tail. Background painted red. 35 × 38·8 cm.3. In relief ‘putto’ moving left holding a patera (?) in his right hand and tambourine in left hand. Overhead hanging swags. 47·7 × 35 cm.4. ‘Putto’ flying to right holding a lyre in right hand. Overhead hanging swags. 49·6 × 35·6 cm.5. In relief a winged Victory moving lightly to right. 48·3 × 34·4 cm.6. In relief ‘putto’ running to right, over his left arm a small piece of drapery. Overhead hanging swags. 48·3 × 39·5 cm.7. Concave and framed with leaf-tongue moulding. In relief ‘putto’ riding a sea-horse. 30·5 × 39·5 cm.8. Concave and framed by leaf-tongue moulding. In relief ‘putto’ riding sea-monster. 31·2 × 43·9 cm.9. In relief half-reclining semi-nude female figure, probably Venus. 30·5 × 37·6 cm.10. Concave, framed by leaf-moulding. In relief ‘putto’ on back of panther prancing to left. 31·8 × 34·4 cm.11. In relief, griffin prancing to left. 28 × 33·1 cm.