Getty Museum

Wall Fragment with Bull's Head and Winged Sea Monsters on Black Ground

Date

A.D. 50–79

Medium

Fresco

Culture

Roman

Department

Paintings

Institution

Getty Museum

Fragment from the upper zone of a frescoed wall with a bull’s head, winged hippocamps, and architectural designs on black ground; the decorative motifs continue to the left on fragment 72.AG.78.3 (or 72.AG.78.9), to the right on fragment 72.AG.78.2, and below on fragment 72.AG.78.11 (or 72.AG.78.10). At the lower edge of the fragment, gold winged hippocamps holding blue cornucopias flank a diadem topped with an acroterion. Just below the diadem is preserved the top of a red ground, green-bordered panel decorated with gold stag antlers that surround green field with white crosses. The cornucopias support a plain, three-sided red frame with gold borders, which is topped with an illusionistic gold cornice. Cast shadows suggest a light source to the right. From the left edge of this cornice, extends a gold plant-like rod, and from the right, a blue floral motif. Centered above the cornice is an inverted mask stand containing a bull’s head. On top of this, the feet of a standing figure, likely a satyr, are preserved. From the ends of the cornice rise thin green staves with bunches of yellow and green flowers. The design of this fragment is nearly identical to decoration on 72.AG.78.3 and the left side of 72.AG.78.1.2. Adapted from C. Vermeule, Catalogue of Ancient Art in the J. Paul Getty Museum (1973).

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