In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite

Wednesday, 01 November 2006 09:12

Toledo, Ohio—The Toledo Museum of Art opens the exhibition In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite on November 11, 2006, an extremely rare exhibition of 2,000-year-old Roman frescoes that have never before toured the United States.  The exhibition consists of more than 70 works of art and artifacts recovered from five ancient Roman villas located in Stabiae, a resort community of lavish summer homes overlooking the Bay of Naples.  The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a.d. 79, buried Stabiae in ash and pumice, along with the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.  Although life in Stabiae was brought to an abrupt end, the treasures and luxurious living quarters were remarkably preserved.  In Stabiano will be on view through January 28, 2007.

Ancient Stabiae (modern Castellammare di Stabia) consisted of a string of enormous sea-view villas built by the Roman elite for summer residency and political entertaining in the first centuries b.c. and a.d.  In the summer months the Bay of Naples became the virtual capital of the Roman Empire.  The exhibition features 26 remarkably well-preserved fresco wall paintings and 11 wall reliefs made of stucco originating from five partially excavated villas. The frescoes are among the very highest quality ever recovered from Roman history.  Most notably the exhibition includes an entire triclinium (three-couch dining room) frescoed with scenes of Dionysus, god of wine and other reveling gods.  Roman aristocrats used their villas as power bases for entertaining clients, which explains why they invested so much in decorating their surroundings with fine works of art. 

The Toledo Museum of Art has installed the exhibition to evoke the feeling of a visit to a luxurious Roman seaside villa, designed to enjoy both glorious views of the Bay of Naples and also quiet garden courtyards.  Visitors will be able to experience the spaces, the objects, and the art that were integral to the lives of household members and their guests. 

The exhibition and four-year tour is organized by the Superintendancy of Archaeology of Pompei and the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation, and constitutes the first long-term loan of major cultural treasures from Italy to the U.S.  The RAS Foundation has as its mission the completion of the excavation and conservation of at least two of the enormous villas and the transformation of the site into one of the largest archaeological parks in modern Europe.  Website at: www.stabiae.org.  The site of Stabiae (Castellammare di Stabia) is 2.5 miles from Pompeii and is currently open to the public.

Catalogue
The exhibition is accompanied by the fully illustrated 160-page color catalogue, In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite. The large format paperbound catalogue is available for $50 at the Museum Store or by calling 419-254-5766.  Phone orders will include an additional charge for shipping and handling.

The mission of the Toledo Museum of Art is based upon the belief in the power of art to ignite the imagination, stimulate thought, and provide enjoyment.  Through our collection and programs, we strive to integrate art into the lives of people.  The Toledo Museum of Art is a nonprofit arts institution funded through individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and investments.  The Ohio Arts Council helps fund programs at the Toledo Museum of Art through a sustainable grant program that encourages economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Museum is located at 2445 Monroe Street at Scottwood Avenue, just west of the downtown business district and one block off I-75 with exit designations posted.  Visit : www.toledomuseum.org.