Vitruvius on coloured mortars and slaking lime

Abstract eng:
Vitruvius Pollio treated in ten volumes the whole system of Roman architecture and engineering, but technical terminology, the specificity of his subjects and his concise style provide many difficulties to the modern reader. In consequence, Vitruvius’ instructions for applying the “perfect” plaster for wall paintings both durable and brilliant are cited in most studies on Roman wall painting, but up to now consent on the understanding of many critical passages has not yet been reached. Thus an interdisciplinary research project composed of philologists, archaeologists, conservators and experts on construction history dedicated three years of studies on Vitruvius’ work. The main aim of the project was focused on the elaboration of a new German translation and a critical annotation of the technical terms and descriptions regarding plasters and painting techniques. Through the combination of philological studies, in-situ assessment of plasters and paintings and experimental reconstruction of historic plastering techniques some critical passages of the text can be presented in a new light. In this paper two examples of the project work are given to demonstrate both possibilities and limits of the method: the theory that Vitruvius recommends the use of coloured mortar in combination with fresco painting is shown to be born out of an error in text tradition, as Vitruvius does not consider this technique worth mentioning. He does, however, give a series of allusions on how to slake lime for structural and decorative mortars: while lime for mortar prepared for concrete according to Vitruvius probably was dry slaked and soon further processed, the lime slaked for stuccoworks and fresco plasters was allowed to mature and hydrate thoroughly to avoid damages caused by not hydrated quicklime rests.

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