The Sorceress and Client

Basics

c. 100BC Place – Villa of Cicero,

country house outside Pompeii

Another mosaic of similar size and style found in same house

Signed by Dioscurides of Samos – maker of mosaic or painter of original work from which it is copied

Emblema measures 45cm in height and 36 cm in width

Street musicians is 48 cm high and 46cm wide

Content – General ImpressionTwo women – clients reciting ritual together

with sorceress

Older woman – witch or sorceress making a potion of some kind for two clients

Table and chairs on platform

Three stairs

The three women are wearing theatrical masks

Young boy

BUT!

Similarities between the two mosaics and those found in Mytilene in W. Turkey, suggest scenes derive from paintings depicting scenes from the comedies of Menander

Greek playwright of the second half of fourth century BC

Enough similarities in content to suggest link to one of Menander’s plays “Women at Breakfast” (Synaristosai)

This means:

Pythias

Pythias’ mother, Philainis. Complaining about something? Perhaps the quality of her wine

Both visiting young woman named Plangon

Style – attempt to create depth and space

Three horizontal steps

Horizontal bands. Black, green and red. Artists signature in middle bandThree overlapping

vertical bands. Black, grey and yellow

Positioning of table in middle to suggest women beside and behind it

Objects and pattern on table to suggest horizontal surface

Highlighting of clothing to suggest she is nearer the light

Figures are somewhat flattened by rigidity of vertical and horizontal bands, nor are they given depth by an juxtaposed or contrasting objects on the monochrome wall behind them