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