Fragment of wall painting with a flying Eros

The fragment of a wall painting featuring the winged figure of Eros, or Cupid, hovering at the center of a brilliant yellow ground originates from a magnificently decorated villa at Boscotrecase, a suburb of Pompeii, probably excavated at the turn of the twentieth century. It is part of the decoration of a single cubiculum (sleeping chamber); the rest of the decoration now belongs to the collection of the Wuerttembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart. Eros, depicted as a sturdy child, is seen flying toward the right, with the upper part of his body and head turned to the left. He hovers in real space, with a sense of depth created by the torsion of the body, the diagonal lines, and the play of light and shadow on the body and clothes. The fragment's sketchy style, vibrant touches of color emphasizing light and shadow, and free-floating body in a dynamic pose are found frequently in works of the Fourth Style. The quality of the Boscotrecase wall paintings bears witness to the prosperity and taste of the proprietor, as well as to the villa's importance. Eros appears carrying the club of Hercules, a theme common from the Hellenistic period, symbolizing the power of love to disarm even the strongest adversary.

Credit: Gift of Dr. Eli Borowski, in the name of his son Zeev Reuven