Illustrations of Hamilton’s hydria (case I, no. 3) inspired artists. The translation of figures from vases to walls [5] reflects the ancient evidence [6–8]. In a series of public letters Winckelmann alerted European connoisseurs to the ongoing excavations in Herculaneum, which were also being lavishly illustrated in Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte [6]. There he records his admiration for ancient drawings of dancers found on painted plaster as well as on ancient vases [6–7]. He shares also enthusiasm for the beautiful shapes of simpler objects, including lamps and bottles, unearthed in these excavations [9–10].
5. Photograph of the outer hall, Newtimber Place, Sussex (after Ian Jenkins and Kim Sloan, Vases and Volcanoes: Sir William Hamilton and His Collection. London 1996, fig. 27, with the kind permission of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Clay), with a wall painting inspired by Laurent Pecheux’ trompe-l’oeil painting of the main scene on Hamilton’s hydria, as represented in d’Hancarville 1766–67, vol. II, pl. 22.
6. Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte. Naples 1757–1792. Christ Church, Wake Arch Inf F.1.4–12.
7. Chunk of painted plaster decorated with palmettes. ND. Reading Museum and Art Gallery, inv. no. REDMG:1953.25.107.
8. Attic black-figure cup attributed to the Haimon Group, showing a dancing maenad, ca. 500–480 BCE. Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, University of Reading, inv. no. 26.12.17.
9. Roman oil lamp, said to be from Pompeii, decorated with Odysseus on the ram, ca. 1st c. CE. From the Woodbine Parish Collection. Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, University of Reading, inv. no. 50.4.25.
10. Roman green glass bottle, said to be from Pompeii, containing charcoal, ca. 1st c. CE. From the Woodbine Parish Collection. Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, University of Reading, inv. no. 50.4.2.
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- Winckelmann and Curiosity - Vases
- Winckelmann and Curiosity - Coins
- Winckelmann and Curiosity - Gems
- Winckelmann and Curiosity - Miscellanea
