Book Illustration, Gemalte Wand im Atrium der Casa di Modesto zu Pompeji (Painted wall in the atrium of a modest house at Pompeii), From Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji (Beautiful ornament and remarkable paintings from Pompeii

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Making Design.

Wilhelm Zahn, born in Germany (1800–1871), is best known for his beautifully lithographed reproductions of the frescoed paintings and decorative moldings found in Pompeii. His work was published in six parts from 1828–59. The first series is regarded as the earliest collection of ornament to be printed in lithography.
During the 1800s when many wealthy European gentlemen embarked on the Grand Tour, Italy had a major influence on architectural and interior design. Pompeian motifs of frescoed wall decorations with finely drawn borders provided the main themes, including the bold blacks, greens, reds, and yellows that became an important part of the Pompeian style. The favored color for fashionable dining rooms was Pompeian red.
Zahn took great care to reproduce the colors as he had found them during his studies in Pompeii. The German mastery of color printing made Wilhelm Zahn’s folio plates of Pompeian wall painting an indispensable tool for scholars and artists.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making Design.