In Rome, until 17 January 2010, there is a beautiful exhibition of ancient Roman painting at the Scuderie del Quirinale. The exhibition is called Roma: La Pittura di un Impero. One of the earliest paintings is a detached fresco from Pompeii. It is in the Architectonic or Second Style (combining architectural elements and views) and dates from around 40 – 30 BC.

Detached Fresco | Style II | House of the Cryptoporticus | Pompeii | 40 – 30 BC

Below the garlands there are examples of Roman graffiti and I’m posting three photographs showing just a small part of the graffiti. The scratched (getting back to the meaning of the word graffiti) drawings are of animals, hunted animals. Because the graffiti is low down on the wall, there has been thought that they were done by children, but a seated adult seems just as reasonable. When the graffiti was made is unknown, but it would have been before the earthquake of 62 AD.

Graffiti of a Deer and Horse | Detail of Detached Fresco from House of the Cryptoporticus | Pompeii | Before 62 AD

Graffiti of an Oryx | Detail of Detached Fresco | House of Cryptoporticus | Before 62 AD | Pompeii

Graffiti of a Boar | Detail from Detached Fresco | House of the Cryptoporticus | Pompeii | Before 62 AD