Skip to main content

Classical Roman Photography

CLASSICAL ROMAN STYLE

During Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 A.D., Pompeii and Herculaneum in today’s Italy were preserved as they were on the day of their destruction. Particularly at Herculaneum, furnishings were carbonized beneath volcanic ash. This was pivotal to understanding how Classical Roman furniture was designed. Archaeological investigations and printed reproductions of discoveries would influence styles evoking this ancient civilization, from the Renaissance to neoclassicism.

While knowledge of Classical Roman furniture comes from rare surviving pieces, it is also derived from frescoes and sculptures portraying Roman life. Much of Roman art, architecture and design was informed by Greece — Roman architect, military engineer and writer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, whose timeless De architectura is taught in contemporary architecture classes and pays tribute to classical architecture, visited Greece while working under Julius Caesar and admired the country’s architectural developments. The Roman solium references the Greek thronos, a stately chair of honor with an upright form and footstool. As the Roman Empire spread across Europe and into North Africa and Western Asia, the expansion of trade for silver, silk, marble and wood allowed for more luxurious designs.

Classical Roman furniture was made from bronze, wood and stone — in particular, marble — with ornate touches like tortoiseshell veneers, bone and glass inlays and claw feet. Ornaments depicting lion heads and mythological figures were sculpted from silver, bronze and ivory. Compared to the decorative attention given to the mosaic floors and wall paintings, however, furniture for even a wealthy house was minimal. It focused on the necessities for guests arriving for both socializing and business and the rooms housing family, relatives and enslaved people.

The triclinium dining room had banquet couches, items so prized they were sometimes interred with the deceased. Tall bronze or terracotta candelabras held oil lamps for lighting. Carved marble tables reflected status, while the lararium home shrine demonstrated faith.

Find a collection of Classical Roman decorative objects, tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

to
2
1
2
1
Height
to
Width
to
638
418
117
29
23
18
16
11
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
Style: Classical Roman
Pope Francis and the New Vatican Draper, Robert Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pope Francis and the New Vatican Draper, Robert hardcover book Title: Pope Francis and the New Vatican Publisher: National Geographic Publication Date: 2015 Binding: Hardcover Book condition: Very good Dust jacket condition: Dust jacket included Synopsis: National Geographic goes behind-the-scenes of the new papacy with unprecedented, exclusive access to Pope Francis. Embedded with the Pope inside the Vatican for 6 months, award-winning photographer David Yoder captures intimate moments in never-before-seen photographs presented here for the first time--including in the Sistine Chapel with the Pope alone on Christmas Day. These extraordinary images reveal the majesty and splendor of the Vatican alongside the humbleness of the man changing it--a compelling juxtaposition. The pontiff's public life and personal crusades are exposed as never before, as well as the inner workings of the Vatican--a uniquely powerful state. Complementary essays by acclaimed journalist and author Robert Draper--drawn from interviews around the world with many who had never spoken publicly before--insightfully cover Pope Francis's personal story, his journey to the papacy, and the heart of his ministry. The book also features a timeline, maps, and Pope Francis's most inspiring words...
Category

2010s Italian Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

"Photograph of a Grecian Bust" by John Dugdale
Located in NYC, NY
"Photograph of a Grecian bust" is a cyanotype print by John Dugdale, edition 2/6. The print is 16" x 20" matted and framed to 24" x 27.5".
Category

20th Century American Classical Roman Photography

Thomas H. Dyer, Fresco of Bacchus and Faun, 1867
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A real photograph from Thomas H. Dyer's Ruins of Pompeii collection, 1867. Albumen print, tipped in. Mounted on card. The actual photograph measures: 6.5 x 5 inches (17 x 12 cm).  
Category

1860s English Antique Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Related Items
Ice Cold, ‘A$AP Rocky’, Limited Ed Book with Black & Signed Fine Art Print
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The definitive photographic history of how hip-hop blinged out and redefined the world of jewelry, luxury, and style. Signed black-and-white pigment print on Canson Platine paper, 16 x 20 in.; hardcover volume in a slipcase, 9.8 x 13.4 in., 6.29 lb., 388 pages. Whether it’s diamond-encrusted grills, oversized “truck” style chains, bust-down Rolex and Patek Philippe watches, or a Tiffany necklace, jewelry is a cornerstone of hip-hop culture. Glittering, blinged-out jewels are the shining statement of a collective identity: unapologetic, charismatic, and street savvy. Spanning the history of hip-hop jewelry, from the 1980s to today, Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History is a stunning compilation of storytelling and visuals. Hundreds of extraordinary images of every major hip-hop artist on record celebrate how “ice” has become a proclamation of identity and self-expression. Starting with Run-DMC’s gold Adidas pendants and Eric B. & Rakim’s ostentatious dookie rope chains and Mercedes medallions, the jewelry then transforms from street style into a booming design culture. The hip-hop tradition of “show up and show out” reaches new heights with artists like Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Gucci Mane, and Cardi B...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Faux Leather, Paper

Original Thomas Ruff, Star 16h30m/ 50 Degrees, Edition X/XXV, 1990
By Thomas Ruff
Located in Berlin, DE
Artist: Thomas Ruff (German 1958) Title: Star 16h30m / -50 degrees (Stern 16h 30m - 50°), from the series Sterne (Stars) Medium: Colour coupler print, signed, dated and numbered vers...
Category

20th Century Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Anna Condo, From My Garden #1, Dye Sublimation Print on Aluminum, US, 2021
Located in New York, NY
Anna Condo, a filmmaker and a photographer born in Armenia and raised in France, has been photographing flowers, her "ultimate muse," since 2013. The medium became a creative outlet ...
Category

2010s American Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Aluminum

David Bowie Photograph “the Archer” by John Rowlands
Located in Toronto, ON
Famed Canadian photographer, John Robert Rowlands has been photographing music celebrities since 1960, and in his 61 years of business, his work has taken him around the world. He has photographed such legendary performers as David Bowie, Jimi Hendricks, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Kiss, Elvis Presley and many more. “The Archer” is one of Rowland’s best known photographs taken on February 26 1976 at Maple Leaf Gardens of “The Thin White Duke” on the Station To Station tour using his Hasselblad camera...
Category

2010s Canadian Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Framed Photograph of Olympic Swimmer John Sauerland by Bruce Weber
Located in Chicago, IL
This striking black and white photogravure by Bruce Weber, printed in 1988, captures a quiet, sculptural moment from his celebrated series on athletes from the 1983 Summer Olympics. ...
Category

1980s American Vintage Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Leather, Paper

Original Edward S. Curtis Photogravure, "The Klamath Hunter" 1923
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a beautiful photogravure showing a Klamath man hunting from a dugout canoe. This image is Plate 458 from Volume 13 of Edward Curtis' epic project The North American Indian. The photogravure was published in 1923 by Suffolk Engr. Co., in Cambridge, MA. The Klamath people are from the inland region of Northern California and Southern Oregon. Their oral history records the volcanic eruption that created Crater Lake over 7000 years ago Edward S. Curtis created one of the most enduring and iconic visual records in the history of the photographic medium. He was an award-winning artist, a consummate craftsman, a visionary, an intrepid entrepreneur, and was highly regarded as a respected ethnographer and publisher. Curtis began photographing Native Americans in the mid-1890s and selling these images in his successful downtown Seattle studio. One of his earliest models was Princess Angeline, the aged daughter of chief Sealth, the Suquamish Indian after whom Seattle is named. At the National Photographic Convention of 1899 Curtis was awarded the grand prize for three of his soft-focused, sepia-toned images of Puget Sound Native Americans: Evening on the Sound, The Clam Digger, and The Mussel Gatherer. Curtis spent the summer of 1900 with George Bird Grinnell observing the Sun Dance at an encampment of Blood, Blackfeet, and Algonquin in Montana. This was a pivotal experience for Curtis, confirming his desire to study and photograph the Native tribes of North America. A trip to visit the Hopi reservation in Arizona a few months later further fueled his enthusiasm. Curtis envisioned a plan to create a massive scholarly and artistic work that would document the tribes west of the Mississippi, their ceremonies, beliefs, daily life, and landscapes. In 1906, Curtis approached railroad tycoon J.P. Morgan to request financial assistance for his project. Morgan agreed to pay him a total of $75,000, or $15,000 a year for five years. Morgan and Curtis decided that Curtis' masterwork, The North American Indian, would be a set of 20 volumes of ethnographic text illustrated with high quality photoengravings taken from his glass plate negatives. Each of these volumes would be accompanied by a portfolio of large size images, all sumptuously bound in Moroccan leather. The papers used for printing would also be of the best quality: a Dutch etching stock by Van Gelder, a Japanese vellum, and for the most discerning subscribers, a translucent Japanese tissue paper. To fund publication, Curtis would sell subscriptions at approximately $3,000 per set, with a total of 500 sets to be published. An ambitious and extensive project, Curtis spent much of his life documenting as many Native tribes as possible. The importance and the urgency of the task was clear to him, as he wrote in the introduction to his first volume of The North American Indians in 1907, "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost." In 1930, some 24 years after his initial request for funding, the last two volumes, Vol. 19 and Vol. 20, were published and The North American Indian project was finally completed. Curtis took over 40,000 photographs and made over 10,000 wax cylinder...
Category

1920s American Vintage Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Form by Horst (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
In very good condition with dust Jacket. One of a Limited First Edition of only five thousand copies published in 1992. Unpagenated, Folio. Out of Print and now scarce. The photograp...
Category

20th Century Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Form by Horst (Book)
Form by Horst (Book)
H 14 in W 11 in D 0.75 in
John Kacere Nude Prints
Located in Atlanta, GA
John Kacere nude prints, American, circa 1970s. The top print measures 18.25" H x 27.5" W. The bottom left measures 15" H x 23" W. The bottom right measures 14.75" H x 22" W. They ha...
Category

1970s American Vintage Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

John Kacere Nude Prints
John Kacere Nude Prints
H 18.25 in W 27.5 in D 0.5 in
Photograph of Male Nude by Greg Gorman
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artist: Greg Gorman (American, b. 1949) Title: Rex and Gregory, 1988 Gelatin silver print Image size: 18.75 x 14.75 inches Paper size: 19.75 x 15.875 inches Frame size: 24.8 x 1...
Category

1980s American Vintage Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Photograph of Male Nude by Greg Gorman
Photograph of Male Nude by Greg Gorman
H 24.8 in W 18.8 in D 1 in
Ruhlmann Vintage Photograph Album (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
A unique photograph album in original grey card wrappers with the Ruhlmann name embossed on the front and the name of the client Monsieur Molinie also...
Category

Early 20th Century Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Ruhlmann Vintage Photograph Album (Book)
Ruhlmann Vintage Photograph Album (Book)
H 13.5 in W 10.5 in D 0.25 in
Irving Penn by John Szarkowski (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This book was published in 1984 by MOMA (the Museum of Modern Art) in conjunction with an exhibition which was the first major retrospective of Penn's work. Penn was one of the most ...
Category

20th Century Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Irving Penn by John Szarkowski (Book)
Irving Penn by John Szarkowski (Book)
H 12.25 in W 10.75 in D 1 in
Vintage Miniature German Variable Camera Tripod 1920s with Ansel Adams Book
Located in Incline Village, NV
From a photography collection are two items included in this listing, for the collector of photographic memorabelia. In it's original tapered brown leather carry case is a miniature ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Thomas H. Dyer. Fresco of Mars and Venus, 1867
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A real photograph from Thomas H. Dyer's Ruins of Pompeii collection, 1867. Albumen print, tipped in. Mounted on card. The actual photograph measures 6.5 x 5 inches (17 x 12 cm).
Category

1860s English Antique Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Thomas H. Dyer. Fountain in the House of the Balcony, 1867
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A real photograph from Thomas H. Dyer's Ruins of Pompeii collection, 1867. Albumen print, tipped in. Mounted on card. The actual photograph measures 6.5 x 5 inches (17 x 12 cm).
Category

1860s English Antique Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Thomas H. Dyer, Fresco of the Judgement of Paris, 1867
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A real photograph from Thomas H. Dyer's Ruins of Pompeii collection, 1867. Albumen print, tipped in. Mounted on card. The actual photograph measures 6.5 x 5 inches (17 x 12 cm).
Category

1860s English Antique Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Thomas H. Dyer. Mosaic Fountain, 1867
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A real photograph from Thomas H. Dyer's Ruins of Pompeii collection, 1867. Albumen print, tipped in. Mounted on card. The actual photograph measures 6.5 x 5 inches (17 x 12 cm).
Category

1860s English Antique Classical Roman Photography

Materials

Paper

Thomas H. Dyer. Mosaic Fountain, 1867
Thomas H. Dyer. Mosaic Fountain, 1867
H 23.5 in W 16.5 in D 0.25 in

Classical Roman photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman photography for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage photography created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman photography made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original photography, popular names associated with this style include and John Dugdale. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for photography differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $8,000 while the average work can sell for $50.

Recently Viewed

View All