06 Jan Mural concepts and inspirations-The frescoes of Pompeii
To be any type of artist you need to be motivated by the urge to create and find the exact
area in which the creative inspiration can be channeled for best visual and or financial gain is
the first step to success.
Probably one needs to trace the first time something visually really impressed and inspired a
strong urge to create something similar.
For mural artists of a certain generation, I am sure it was the Italian and Baroque interiors with
figurative and scenic views looking all the more romantic with the patina of age, somehow
potentially strong colors toned by time become magical.
For this mural artist Palladio and Baroque interiors and then the strong colors in the frescoes
from Pompeii beguiled and inspired me, perhaps also it was my interest in history, I was
intrigued by the lives of artists in antiquity which was considered at the top of the artisans
ladder and allowed certain privileges.
Pompeii was destroyed because of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24,79 CE. Just
after midday on August 24, fragments of ash and other volcanic debris began pouring down on
Pompeii, quickly covering the city to a depth of more than 9 feet (3 meters).
What was a disaster for the citizens of Pompeii, (many escaped by boat, and many died) gave
us the gift of a unique glimpse into their lives and the great art which has inspired many
muralists and certainly myself to paint murals in London of scenes from ‘The Villa of the
Mysteries’ and in grand country homes ‘Lydia’s Garden’.
I have also made use of copying Roman scenes to paint murals on the walls of wine cellars
using Bacchus the god of wine god with frescos of painted grapes and drinking vessels.
I was driven to paint murals inspired by Roman ( and Greek) frescoes for a few years and feel
like I have crossed it off my list of mural themes to paint, along with Greek, Egyptian and
Etruscan but would happily use inspirations from Antiquity for any future mural or trompe l’oeil
commissions
A mural painted for a London music producer’s master bedroom inspired by ‘The villa of mysteries’ in Pompeii
A mural painted for a wall in a large country house in the English home counties inspired by ‘Lydia’s garden’ in Pompeii
A mural painted for an entrance hall in a London townhouse using an Etruscan theme.
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