Sappho Fresco

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The Sappho Fresco
English: Portrait of a Young Woman with Stylus, Italian: 'Saffo'
Year55-79
Mediumfresco
MovementPompeian Styles
SubjectA young educated woman with stylus, popularized as an icon of Sappho
Dimensions37 cm × 38 cm (15 in × 15 in)
LocationNational Archaeological Museum of Naples, Naples, Italy
Accession9084

The Sappho Fresco or Portrait of a Young Woman with Stylus is a Pompeian-style Fresco dating to the 1st century, from the city of Pompeii, which got buried during the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Believed to be of the Fourth Style painting, it was recovered on 17 May 1760. Currently displayed at the National Archaeological Museum, Naples, alongside the Portrait of Terentius Neo, it is among many examples found in Pompeii that demonstrates the autonomy of that women had in ancient Rome.[1]

Subject

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During the 19th century, scholars speculated that the portrait is that of Sappho of Lesbos, which lent fame to the work. Due to the fact that there is no label attributing the portrait to her, modern scholars now attribute the portrait to an upper-class educated Pompeiian woman.[1][2]

The woman holds the tablet and stylus contemporary to that of Roman citizens during the 1st century AD, and the clothing and hair closely reflect the styles made popular during the mid-century.[3] With the contemplation and direct stare to the audience in thought, she is known as a docta puella (learned girl), and such portrait is used to showcase the upper-class family, as 15% of the Roman population was literate at the time.[3][4]

The Portrait of Terentius Neo also depicts the same style and pose, which was discovered in the Regio VII, Insula 2.6 decades later during the 19th century.[5] The "Sappho" portrait too is paired alongside a portrait of a young man, paired as a couple.[1][6] Such visual depictions, along with the records of female landowners through Pompeiian history that women held egalitarian or essential dominant roles.[1][6]

Excavation

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The Youth Portrait

The first major excavations began in Pompeii in the year 1748. The Fresco itself derives form the Insula VI region of the city, which belonged to the local Cuomo family, while the neighboring Insula VII, the site of many fresco finds belonged to that of the Irace family.[6]

Excavation Report of the Mural, Naples Royal Printing House (1762)

In 1759, excavations moved to the region with the two properties, with the Masseria di Cuomo covering the Triangular Forum with the Doric Temple towards the Herculaneum Gate of the city.[6][7]

In 17 May 1760, a set of frescos were found, with a central panel depicting the myth of Andromeda and Perseus, and subsequently on the center of the side panel, the Sappho fresco and that of a young man clutching a scroll.[2][3][6][8]

It currently resides at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, torn from the walls of the original house, a practice commonly seen from the 18th century excavations, where ornamental pieces, typically smaller than 30 cm2 were eyed for extraction.[2][6][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Silberberg-Peirce, Susan (1993). "The Muse Restored: Images of Women in Roman Painting". Woman's Art Journal. 14 (2): 28–36. doi:10.2307/1358447. ISSN 0270-7993. JSTOR 1358447.
  2. ^ a b c Bernardeau, Sandrine (21 August 2013). "Portrait de jeune femme par - œuvre d'art analysée en images". Panorama de l'art (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  3. ^ a b c Iacobelli, Natalia (2025-07-17). "Woman with Stylus: What a Portrait Can Tell Us About Women in Ancient Rome". DailyArt Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  4. ^ "The archaeology of Roman literacy | Berkshire Archaeological Society". www.berksarch.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  5. ^ "VII.2.6 Pompeii. House of T. Terentius Neo. Excavated 1843, 1852, 1862 and 1868. (Strada Stabiana 32)". www.pompeiiinpictures.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "VI.17 and VII.16 Pompeii Insula Occidentalis. Miscellaneous paintings and unprovenanced items". pompeiiinpictures.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  7. ^ Innovation, Kreisa. "Foro Triangolare e tempio Dorico - Planet Pompeii". www.planetpompeii.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  8. ^ Bragantini, Irene; Sampaolo, Valeria (2009). La pittura pompeiana [Pompeian Painting]. Electa, Soprintendenza archeologica Napoli e Pompei (published 526). ISBN 9788851005757.
  9. ^ Moormann, E. M. (1987). "Destruction and restoration of Campanian mural paintings in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries". In S. Cather (ed.). The Conservation Of Wall Paintings (PDF). pp. 87–101.