Wednesday, October 13, 2010

301 : precedent analysis : house of vetti


House of Vetti was a domus owned by Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus, two successful freeman.  Preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD the interests of these two men House of Vetti, a domus owned by Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus, two successful freeman, and preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, provides a moment frozen in time.  This project thus documents lifestyles and the architecture and design that supported in the middle of the Roman Empire.  The surrounding walls supply a home to many frescoes, which take a front seat in the House of Vetti.  The peristyle, laid out symmetrically to the house, contained an elaborate water display.  This lavish feature, as well as the lush gardens and elaborate frescoes set a distinct mood as well as a high social status. Yellow and red accents, true to classical Pompeian style, populate many surfaces and details in the  two main spaces, each open towards the sky. With all of the furnishings on plain view, visitors experienced the owners social and cultural beliefs and interests in tangible, visible form.frozen in time. Fluted Doric columns frame a peristyle entertaining a large space of the house.  The surrounding walls are home to many frescoes, which take a front seat in the House of Vetti.  The peristyle is laid out symmetrically to house an elaborate water display.  I’d imagine this lavish feature, lush gardens and elaborate frescoes set a distinct mood as well as social status. Yellow and red accents are true to classical Pompeian style. The two main spaces in the house reach open towards the sky. This also is an example of how exposed the owners social and cultural beliefs and interests were upon arrival of the house.
In Vetti, the lararium, a shrine to the Gods of household, imitates the form the temple: columns support a pediment and frame a central painting.  One of the key frescoes in the home, these small paintings displayed the owners’ social and cultural interests and habits. The provocative and revealing art featured in the House of Vetti stands revealed front and center in the entrance foyer via an almost life-size fresco of Priapus.  Most knew of Priapus’ powers as a fertility God and protector of livestock, gardens and male genitalia.  The fresco displays Priapus weighing his erection from beneath his tunic against a bag of overflowing with coins in a set of scales that he holds.

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