The STUCCO project focuses on the exceptional ancient stucco decoration of Pozzuoli, a town near Naples in Italy. These stucco relief decorations were removed from their archaeological context in the 17th-18th century during the Grand Tour, a journey through Europe undertaken by the aristocracy for cultural enlightenment in Greek and Roman humanities. Presently, this material is preserved in various European museums such as the British Museum in the UK, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in Italy, and the Louvre in France.
This corpus, comprising nearly 70 items, offers a rare and profoundly interesting perspective on the history of art and craftsmanship in the first centuries of the Roman Empire, yet it remains relatively obscure. The STUCCO project aims to study this exceptional collection of ancient stucco, providing valuable insights to sustain the discipline.
The STUCCO project delineates three primary scientific objectives: 1) defining and studying the iconographic repertoire of stucco decorations, 2) enhancing our understanding of the Pozzuoli stucco workshop and its techniques ("chaîne opératoire", preparatory tracing, tools), and 3) reconstructing the original context of the fragments from Antiquity to the present day, thereby advancing our understanding of the history of collectionism.
Furthermore, the archaeological contexts of these stuccoes are known and still exist. They are monumental tombs from the first century AD, still standing along ancient roads, and are visible to this day. Pozzuoli, a lesser-known treasure of Roman archaeology overshadowed by the nearby town of Pompeii, faces threats from both natural (earthquakes, eruptions) and human factors (pollution, vandalism). The scientific STUCCO project seeks to promote this incredible heritage and mitigate these risks.
To achieve its scientific and promotional objectives, the project collaborates with the LIMC team at the University of Paris Nanterre, led by Dr. Prioux (Director of Research at the CNRS) and comprising some of the world's foremost specialists in ancient iconography and history of ancient art. Additionally, cutting-edge technology such as 3D and multispectral analysis is employed for unprecedented studies, alongside extensive communication efforts targeting the general public and educational institutions.
The STUCCO project is crucial for the future of studies on ancient stuccowork. The interest in ancient stucco notably began in the 1970s with the contributions of Prof. R. Ling, followed by the studies of Prof. M. Frizot and Dr. N. Blanc. Despite the increasing attention to this ancient decoration, which enhances the study context, there are currently no specialists of Roman stucco holding academic positions. Research in this area risks cessation unless a project facilitates a revival and update of studies on ancient stucco.
