series of 8 intaglio prints. 2009

Each of these floorplans belongs to a private villa in the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum that were buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The society that lived there was one of leisure and extravagance, and the homes were lavishly planned and decorated. In spite of the threat posed by the proximity of the volcano, these coastal towns thrived because of the rich soil, the proximity to Rome and the unparalleled view of the Bay of Naples.

The only written eye-witness account of the eruption that buried these towns comes from a young student in the natural sciences, Pliny the Younger. His two letters to the Roman historian Tacitus have become not only historical accounts of great importance but also wonderful examples of early science writing. They show the importance of precise language and careful observation. The sentences below the floorplans were chosen from his letters.