Vitruvius on Stage Architecture and Some Recently Discovered Scaenae Frons Decorations

The recent discoveries of the Room of the Masks in the Casa di Augusto on the Palatine in Rome, and the atrium of the building at Torre dell'Annunziata now generally known as Oplontis, have rekindled interest in the influence of stage architecture on Second Style wall painting, yet their real importance has not been fully appreciated. While the origins of the Second Style are still debated, the influence of the design of stage settings in the late republic is undeniable. That the paintings of these two rooms conform to Vitruvius's criteria for stage construction and theatrical scenery confirms this thesis. The influence of the stage is also a crucial factor in the development of the later styles and their dating.