This painting of a cityscape gives the illusion of deep space inside a private home. Roman frescoes are the closest examples of extant Greek monumental paintings. Ancient authors write that the wealthy men of Rome liked to fill their homes with reproductions of Greek masterpieces. The original paintings were copied freehand and adapted for the Roman home. C.E. Astounding landscapes, complex vistas of architecture, narrative scenes from mythology, and even still lifes decorate the walls of these cities.
Styles range from great detail and precision to quick, almost impressionistic, brushstrokes.
Shading is used, although the light doesn't come consistently from one direction. Textures are carefully rendered so that a piece of fruit and a glass full of water are clearly distinguishable. Art was on the move. By leaps and bounds, the Greeks and Romans began to decipher the mysteries that lie behind painting. Their interest in human movement, however, ultimately proved to be fleeting.