Ancient Roman Stucco Fragment of frieze - 24 cm

Roman Stucco Frieze – 1st-3rd century AD

A large fragment of a higly decorative stucco frieze with rows of ornaments. From top: tendrils and fruit, egg-and-dart, blossoms, dentils and egg-and-dart.

Stucco has a long history in the Mediterranean world. Typically consisting of crushed or burned lime or gypsum mixed with sand and water, stucco was easily molded or modeled into relief decoration for walls, ceilings, and floors in both interior and exterior spaces

Roman stuccowork grew out of Hellenistic practices in the Mediterranean world, which, in turn, combined earlier Greek and Egyptian traditions.
Following Greek tradition, Roman stuccowork used white lime plaster, which was lightweight and easily worked. This type of plaster was also used in contemporary fresco painting, and its preparation and application is described in detail by ancient authors such as Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder. Stuccowork grew in popularity in late Republican and early imperial Rome as a result of the construction boom associated with brick and cement construction. While it is not as widely known today as other types of Roman decor, it played a significant role in well-planned and -executed interior spaces, complementing painted compositions, mosaic floors, and sculptural assemblages with projecting architectural elements and relief schemes.

Artists working in Roman Italy created expansive stucco schemes in private homes, tombs, and public buildings, particularly in baths. The pieces in high relief were secured to the walls with metal rods or nails. Some forms were molded before they were attached to the walls, but other shapes and designs, such as cornices or frieze borders, were stamped into semi-dry plaster after application to the wall or ceiling. The stamped patterns imitated the egg-and-dart and vegetal borders carved on monumental architecture.

Provenance: From the private collection of R.L., Belgium. Acquired around 2007 from Ariadne Gallery, New York. Previously in a private collection in New York.
Attached import certificate from Spanish Ministry of Culture.

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