Portrait of Terentius Neo and his Wife
The Basics
52 cm high 62-79 AD Fourth Style Wall From a house attributed
to Pacuvius Proculus Proculus a baker, but
later evidence led experts to change house ID to Terentius Neo, a lawyer
Realistic
Description
Hair style fashionable 1st century BC
Artistic Features
Frontal styles, bodies angled towards each other. Head and torso only
Light and shade – careful study of ambient light, with highlights and shading giving realism to clothing and features
Skin tones – light and dark Plain background – does
not distract
Conventions
Sappho Portrait
Scroll significant – Marriage contract? Wedding picture?
Stylus and tablet appear on other Pompeian paintings, e.g Sappho. A motif (artictic convention) which was fashionable 1st cent AD. May have no connection to subject matter.
Way she holds tablet (diptych), open so he can see what is written – message is that there are no secrets here
ColoursA love of browns and reds
Style – use arrows to match the points to the painting
No attempt at idealisation With his straggly moustache
and beard, large crease on his forehead, big ears and rather bony features, the young man is no Apollo or Adonis
Women’s grace and elegance contrasts her partner
One could almost conclude that he is aware he is not her social equal
Nevertheless, with his frank and honest gaze, he creates a sympathetic response in the viewer