Sappho Fresco

The Sappho Fresco
English: Portrait of a Young Woman with Stylus, Italian: 'Saffo'
Year	55-79
Medium	fresco
Movement	Pompeian Styles
Subject	A young educated woman with stylus, popularized as an icon of Sappho
Dimensions	37 cm× 38 cm(15 in× 15 in)
Location	National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Naples, Italy
Accession	9084

The Sappho Fresco or Portrait of a Young Woman with Stylus is a Pompeian-style Fresco dating to the 1st century, from the city of Pompeii, which got buried during the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Believed to be of the Fourth Style painting, it was recovered on 17 May 1760. Currently displayed at the National Archaeological Museum, Naples, it is considered a masterpiece of Roman art and is often paired with the Portrait of Terentius Neo. ^[1]

Subject

During the 19th century, scholars speculated that the portrait is that of Sappho of Lesbos, which lent fame to the work. Due to the fact that there is no label attributing the portrait to her, modern scholars now attribute the portrait to an upper-class educated Pompeiian woman. ^{[2] [3]}

The woman holds the tablet and stylus contemporary to that of Roman citizens during the 1st century AD, and the clothing and hair, closely reflects the styles made popular during the mid-century. ^[1] With the contemplation and direct stare to the audience in thought, she is known as a docta puella (learned girl), and such portrait is used to showcase the upper-class family, as 15% of the Roman population was literate at the time. ^{[1] [4]}

The Portrait of Terentius Neo also depicts the same style and pose, which was discovered int he Regio VII, Insula 2.6 decades later during the 19th century. ^[5] The motif shows that such commissioned portraits that were trendy at the time, and that literacy and academia were prevalent. ^[3]

Excavation

The Youth Portrait

The first major excavations began in Pompeii in the year 1748. The Fresco itself derives form the Insula VI region of the city, which belonged to the local Cuomo family, while the neighboring Insula VII, the site of many fresco finds belonged to that of the Irace family. ^[6]

Excavation Report of the Mural, Naples Royal Printing House (1762)

In 1759, excavations moved to the region with the two properties, with the Masseria di Cuomo covering the Triangular Forum with the Doric Temple towards the Herculaneum Gate of the city. ^{[6] [7]}

In 17 May 1760, a set of frescos were found, with a central panel depicting the myth of Andromeda and Perseus, and subsequently on the center of the side panel, the Sappho fresco and that of a young man clutching a scroll. ^{[1] [6]}

Extracted and displayed at the National Archaeological Museum where it currently resides, it is also an example of sloppier and more invasive techniques of excavation that has left damage on the original site. ^{[3] [6]}

References

1. Iacobelli, Natalia (2025-07-17). "Woman with Stylus: What a Portrait Can Tell Us About Women in Ancient Rome". DailyArt Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
2. McDaniel, Spencer (2021-10-18). "Why That Fresco from Pompeii Isn't Sappho". Tales of Times Forgotten. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
3. "Portrait de jeune femme par - œuvre d'art analysée en images". Panorama de l'art (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-06.
4. "The archaeology of Roman literacy | Berkshire Archaeological Society". www.berksarch.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
5. "VII.2.6 Pompeii. House of T. Terentius Neo. Excavated 1843, 1852, 1862 and 1868. (Strada Stabiana 32)". www.pompeiiinpictures.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
6. "VI.17 and VII.16 Pompeii Insula Occidentalis. Miscellaneous paintings and unprovenanced items". pompeiiinpictures.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
7. Innovation, Kreisa. "Foro Triangolare e tempio Dorico - Planet Pompeii". www.planetpompeii.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.