Saturday, May 10, 2014

Pompeii No.11: The Clipeus

Mark D. Ruffner
This week I'm adding a clipeus to the Pompeii Room.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin   |   Spring 2010
The clipeus was a shield that was hung by the Pompeians over their entrances for protection. Today, some people do the very same thing with horseshoes. This mural detail is from the house of P. Fannius Synistor, and can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Pompeii   |   Coarelli   |   Riverside
This is a detail of a mural from the Villa Poppea. Though it's not in P. Fannius Synistor's house, the clipeus looks as though it may have been painted by the same artist.

www.findamuralist.com
The late Garth Benton, who painted this clipeus on the south porch of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, probably looked to the first two images for reference. Notice that all three shields include the same star.

Mark D. Ruffner
It's a star found on many shields from antiquity. We know that the Romans borrowed heavily from the Greek culture, and this star can be traced to Macedonia, which was originally a Greek city state.

en.wikipedia.org
Appropriately, prior to 1995, this was the flag
of the Republic of Macedonia.

squarewithflair.blogspot.com
Having said all that, I decided to go a different route and decorate my clipeus with a lion's head. I was attracted to this Chanel logo — the photo originated from my blogger friend at Square With Flair.

Chanel, who was a Leo, loved the lion as an emblem, decorated her apartment with lions, and even incorporated the lion on buttons for her fashion creations. Terry was kind enough to send me additional reference of this particular lion.

And here is my own clipeus.

Next week I'll be adding a mythical animal to the mural,
one that represents both strength and wisdom.
.

Posted by Mark D. Ruffner at 7:30 AM
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23 comments:

  1. Theresa CheekMay 10, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    You know I hang on every word when you get into the history of something! I am also a Leo and very much appreciate the lion on your clipeus. One day, I would love to see this room in person.

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 10, 2014 at 10:45 AM

      Dear Theresa,

      The door is open, but you really should visit when the room is appropriately appointed with Pompeian furniture (a reveal to come!). Were I a Leo, I might start collecting lions like Coco; I already have the Lion of Lucerne.

      Delete
  2. columnistMay 10, 2014 at 8:59 AM

    I'm glad he's not frowning!

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 10, 2014 at 10:45 AM

      Dear Columnist,

      I'm guessing he's in the middle of a roar.

      Delete
  3. RosemaryMay 10, 2014 at 9:33 AM

    Dear Mark - how uncanny? the next post I show will have the 16 ray gold star of Macedonia.
    The burnished golden glow of your clipeus is beautifully executed.
    I am most likely wrong but I am opting for a Griffin - a lion's strength and an eagle's wisdom.

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 10, 2014 at 10:53 AM

      Dear Rosemary,

      We've done that several times — we are obviously operating at the same wave length! Thank you for liking the sheen of my clipeus, and I like the word "burnished." Yes, one member of the household is charged with getting up on a ladder and regularly burnishing that clipeus. Just to be sure.

      I'm not giving away next week's subject, but you could be right.

      Delete
  4. ParnassusMay 10, 2014 at 10:34 AM

    Hello Mark, I love your use both of the clipeus and of the added lion. Because of the clipeus' round shape and golden sheen, even in the painted versions, one can easily image this as having an ancient Egyptian ancestor in the sun figures, associated with sun gods such as Ra/Amun, that are often depicted centered on lintels and doorways.

    A less direct parallel can be found in various Chinese roundels and masks, on which I coincidentally have recently been doing some research.
    --Jim

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 10, 2014 at 11:00 AM

      Hello, Jim,

      I had not made that connection to the Egyptian sun disks, but should have, since I just painted one!

      I would add that another common motif for Greek and Roman shields was Medusa's head. I considered using that but decided I'd rather look at a lion every day!

      I look forward to a posting on Chinese rondels.

      Delete
    2. ParnassusMay 10, 2014 at 11:46 AM

      Hello again, Thinking in a forward time direction made me realize the ubiquity of related sunbursts and fanlights in Neoclassical architecture, especially as centered on doors or pediments.

      Your choice of a lion is perfect, but I hope that you will save the Medusa's head for another project!

      Delete
    3. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 1:37 PM

      In truth, though the Medusa head traditionally averts evil, I would have a hard time looking at a head of snakes every day!

      Delete
  5. Woodside ParkMay 11, 2014 at 7:33 AM

    I am learning so much from you!! I'm going to google clipeus and see what else comes up. Let's see.....perhaps a Pegasus?

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 11:56 AM

      Hi, Loi,

      Adding historic details to the mural is becoming half my fun. When you google "clipeus," you'll see a lot of Roman shileds — it's interesting to see how the Roman legions decorated their shileds in a uniform heraldry of lightning bolts, wings and arrows, not unlike modern military insiginia.

      Delete
  6. GinaMay 11, 2014 at 11:52 AM

    Dear Mark, Isn't the Medusa head covered in snakes or am I confusing her with something else. I am glad that you chose the lion I have been happy with my Venetian Lion on top of my stone door surround which I had carved in Mexico.
    Your Pompeian Room is looking more wonderful all the time. I admire your skill and tenaciousness. Maybe Theresa and I will come for a visit. But we will wait until your room is "properly appointed".

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 1:46 PM

      Dear Gina,

      Yes, Medusa has a head full of snakes and is not an entirely wholesome sight.

      I have long admired the Venetian lion, and also the flag of Venice, the one that has retained its renaissance shape. Because my grandparents were Swiss, I was well aquainted with the Lion of Lucerne, and I have a small carved replica in my bookcase.

      If you don't make the trip to Florida, perhaps I will have to visit Utah. One of these days, I'd love to try my hand at decorating pottery in the traditional Italian style.

      Delete
    2. GinaMay 11, 2014 at 6:04 PM

      Dear Mark, How wonderful that would be. Yes, please, come this way, with your artistic skills we could start the Renaissance all over again.

      Delete
    3. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 9:57 PM

      :o)

      Delete
  7. Jane and Lance HattattMay 11, 2014 at 3:29 PM

    Hello Mark,

    We are learning so much as well as admiring your incredible handiwork in the decoration of your room. The clipeus adds a definite nobility as a decorative feature and you have executed it brilliantly. It simply glows from the screen and must look wonderful in situ. The lion's head is a great choice and with Chanel and Venice using this symbol, you are in very good company indeed!

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 4:01 PM

      Hello, Jane and Lance,

      I don't know if you've ever noticed, but there are a number of Neoclassic interpretations of the lion which are rather anthropomorphic. I think this image has a little bit of that quality. I'm glad you like the choice!

      Delete
  8. An Urban CottageMay 11, 2014 at 6:07 PM

    It also appears that the doors in the Villa Poppea mural have the same lion heads. Yours seems to be painted in metallics. Is that just the effect of the light and shade?

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 11, 2014 at 10:08 PM

      Hi, Steve,

      No metalic paints are used, just yellows and browns, and a little orange. The more I look at those first two murals, the more similarities I see between them. Notice how behind each clipeus something akin to rafters are depicted.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousMay 13, 2014 at 10:55 AM

    Hello Mark! The clipeus is most impressive. Can a lion have a kind and welcoming face? I think he sort of does. I'm relieved not to have Medusa glaring down at us! I am learning so much from this project! I will be a real threat on Jeopardy someday in the category "Ancient Architecture!"

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    1. Mark D. RuffnerMay 13, 2014 at 11:12 AM

      Hello, Barbara,

      I once auditioned for a game show (It's Academic) and quickly learned that it's one thing to know all the answers at home, and another to remember them when bright hot lights are shining upon you. Everything I knew slipped right out of my head, and I ended up feeling grateful not to have been chosen!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 13, 2014 at 2:31 PM

      I am absolutely sure I would "frieze" up! Sorry.....couldn't resist.

      Delete

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