Unknown Maker, Roman

Although this wall painting of a candelabrum is presented as an independent work, it was once part of a larger fresco painted directly on the interior walls of a villa from the vicinity of Pompeii. Within this original work, each element complemented one another, as well as the room they adorned. The compositional elements of this fragment, specifically the vine-shaped volutes of the candelabrum, would have been viewed as an extension of the room’s architectural elements. This would have exaggerated the size of the room, creating a heightened sense of grandeur within the space. The prosperity of the house is expressed in the framed still life depicting a rooster approaching several varieties of fruit. As the juxtaposition of birds and food was commonly associated with the sumptuous ingredients of the Roman banquet, this image would have hinted at the lavish table presented to villa guests, thereby communicating the proprietor’s affluence and social status.