Pompeii’s Wall Paintings and the Art Criticism

Significant progress has been made in understanding Pompeian painting techniques through the chemical analysis of paint layers. The results are innovative, and the new findings call for a methodological update of studies on ancient painting. This update is necessary to determine the precise painting techniques used, which will inform conservation and restoration and renew the knowledge required for valorization. Chemistry plays a crucial role in art criticism, particularly in understanding the materials and techniques used in art. By analyzing the paintings’ chemical composition, it becomes possible to reconstruct the creative processes and methods employed by artists. Here, we examined fragments of Pompeian painting, focusing on analyzing the pictorial layer. The interpretation of chemical data suggests that the samples analyzed were painted using a tempera technique. This finding has significant implications for art criticism, reinforcing the usefulness of this technique for understanding the cultural context of Pompeian painters and their patrons as well as those of the Vesuvius areas.

Keywords: Pompeian Wall Paintings, Organic Binders, Cultural Heritage, Art Criticism.