Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.17018/portal.2018.1
Newly-discovered Fragment of an Ancient Wall Painting in Cavtat: Research, Conservation, and Possibility of Presentation
Helena Puhara
; Museums and Galleries of Konavle
Ana Požar Piplica
Abstract
During recent archaeological research at a site with remains of ancient buildings (Z-1756) in Cavtat, located in the westernmost part of the Rat peninsula, remains of walls with fragments of wall paintings in situ have been uncovered. The fragments of wall paintings were found on two lateral walls of a narrow room, with larger fragments on the south wall (approx. 1.5 m2), and somewhat smaller fragments on the north wall (1 m2). The preserved fresco depicts a linear ornament on a pale pink, almost white, ground layer. The wall was divided into quarters using red lines of various thicknesses. The width of the quarters was around 130 cm, while their height cannot be ascertained.
The width of the thicker red lines varies from 2 to 3 cm, while the thinner lines are 0.5 cm wide. The corners of the thinner lines are decorated with dots forming a triangle, representing stylized grapes. Numerous fragments, around 300 pieces, of the fresco have been found during the research. They were painted in the same manner as the preserved in situ wall painting, with polished ground layer and application of red lines. Furthermore, fragments of a fresco with traces of other colours, such as green, blue and black, have been found in the same room. The cross-section of the wall painting and plaster confirms the high quality of craftsmanship, composed of three plaster layers: a coarse surface layer that varies in thickness, a second layer (arriccio), 2 cm thick, and a third and final layer, very thin (intonaco), 0.3 cm thick.
The preserved fresco fragment, on the basis of its stylistic characteristics, displays elements of the linear style, which developed at the end of the 2nd century and is characteristic of the 3rd century, confirming the period of the last renovation of this part of the building.
The structure of the ancient wall has been stabilised, and its volume partially reconstructed, due to consolidation. The wall painting and the plaster have been conserved and protected with sacrificial plaster.
Keywords
Cavtat; Epidaur; ancient site of Rat; 3rd century; wall painting; wall consolidation; lime mortar
Hrčak ID:
218258
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2018.
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