In a new project, researchers have managed to revive ancient fabric dyeing techniques to learn new details about the daily lives of the inhabitants of Pompeii before it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Their source of inspiration became the frescoes found during excavations, writes The Independent.
For this project the Umbrian master Claudio Cutuli was hired, who uses dyes obtained exclusively from plants: for example he uses dog rose root to create red and brown, elderberry for black and grey, cardamom with amber for yellow and green.
Using the Pompeian color palette, Cutuli painted scarves with motifs taken from the frescoes of the House of Vettius. The House of Vettius was one of the richest houses in Pompeii, it was reopened to visitors to Pompeii in 2023 after two decades of restoration work. By the way, half of the proceeds from the sale of the scarves will go to further fund research and restoration of what was once a great city.
Frescoes at archaeological sites depict wealthy Pompeians dressed in purple, green, pink, blue and yellow. The dyes were obtained by boiling the dyed fabrics in large metal vats in the respective workshops, where slaves who themselves wore simple brown tunics worked.
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2023-12-22 09:14:12
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