Pompeii (Pompei)

Research Status: Moderate Last Updated: 2026-02-10 Diary Coverage: References during Italian travels

Overview

Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, was one of the most dramatic archaeological destinations available to 19th-century travelers. Located near Naples, it was an essential stop on Marie Bashkirtseff's Italian journeys. The ongoing excavations revealed daily life in the ancient world with unprecedented vividness, and the site was a powerful attraction for artists, scholars, and tourists.

Historical Context (1870s)

Archaeological Excavations

By the 1870s, Pompeii had been under systematic excavation for over a century:

• 1748: Formal excavations began under Charles III of Spain (King of Naples)
• 1860s-1870s: Giuseppe Fiorelli directed the excavations with modern methods, including the famous plaster casts of victims
• By Marie's time, major public buildings, houses, streets, and the forum had been uncovered
• The site was one of the most visited archaeological destinations in Europe

What Visitors Saw

Travelers to Pompeii in the 1870s could see:

• The Forum: Center of civic life
• The Amphitheater: Where gladiatorial contests were held
• Houses of the wealthy: With preserved frescoes and mosaics
• Shops and bakeries: Everyday commercial life frozen in time
• The "Secret Cabinet": Erotic art from Pompeii (restricted viewing)
• Plaster casts: Fiorelli's haunting casts of victims caught in the eruption

Cultural Impact

Pompeii profoundly influenced 19th-century culture:

• Inspired the Pompeian style in architecture and interior design
• Subject of numerous paintings, novels, and operas (Bulwer-Lytton's "The Last Days of Pompeii," 1834)
• The frescoes influenced artists studying classical painting techniques
• A memento mori that fascinated the Victorian and belle epoque imagination

Significance for Marie

As an aspiring artist and cultured young woman, Pompeii offered Marie:

• Artistic education: Ancient Roman painting techniques visible in the frescoes
• Historical imagination: The drama of a civilization frozen in time
• Cultural capital: Knowledge of Pompeii was expected of educated Europeans
• Aesthetic experience: The beauty of the mosaics and frescoes

Related Entries

• #Naples - The nearby city and base for visits
• #Rome - The ancient capital
• #Florence - Another Italian art destination