History of the Site of Herculaneum
The House of the Bicentenary is one of the best preserved noble houses at Herculaneum, with highly refined wall paintings and mosaic pavements.
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, the Roman seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the surrounding area were engulfed by volcanic material. From that time until the 18th century, Herculaneum was buried under layers of volcanic material more than fifteen meters (fifty feet) deep at the base of Mount Vesuvius.
Discovered in 1709 with formal excavations beginning in 1738, Herculaneum was explored mainly by tunnels excavated in the volcanic tuff in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many richly decorated public buildings, houses, and a theater yielded fine marble and bronze sculptures, wood elements, and paintings. Of particular significance, an extensive library of charred papyrus rolls was found at the Villa of the Papyri. This lavish residence served as the inspiration for the design of the Getty Villa.
Open-air excavation began in the late 19th century and systematic open-air excavation of the site was undertaken from 1927 until 1961 under the direction of archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri. Historical images of the site and of objects excavated over the last two centuries illustrate the alarming rate of deterioration and loss afflicting the site, much of which has occurred in recent years.
The House of the Bicentenary, excavated in 1938, is considered one of the most noble and sumptuous Roman houses at the site of Herculaneum. The decoration of the tablinum, in particular, is exquisite. Refined wall paintings of great artistic and archaeological significance depict mythological scenes and figures, and a unique mosaic pavement in opus sectile and opus tessellatum create a unified and sophisticated scheme of red, yellow, and black.
Due to the effects of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, subsequent excavation and restoration, and fluctuating environmental conditions, the wall paintings have suffered extensive deterioration, including spalling of the tuff wall, delaminated plasters, powdering and flaking of paint layers, biogrowth, and surface accumulation due to environmental pollution and coatings applied in previous interventions. The mosaic pavement has become detached and lost tesserae.