The Painters of Pompeii: Roman Frescoes rom the National Archeological Museum, Naples

The Painters of Pompeii: Roman Frescoes from the National Archaeological Museum, Naples will see a number of collection highlights travel to North America for the first time. Opening June 26, 2021 and running through October 17, 2021, this historic presentation of the art of painting in ancient Rome will be presented exclusively at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art before returning to Europe.

Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, burying much of the countryside around the Bay of Naples, including the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The eruption preserved the cities until excavations began in the 1700s. Excavations unearthed extensive and richly colored frescoes painted on the walls of homes and public buildings throughout the cities. The exhibition highlights this snapshot in time through over 80 artifacts and artworks.

Classes offering a virtual visit to Naples and Southern Italy exploring the history, culture, food and wine will begin in January. Additionally, kids can look forward to virtually exploring archaeology, Roman deities and mythology through family-oriented virtual classes in the spring. During the exhibition, the museum plans to host a series of lectures in the Noble Theater with several of the most renowned scholars in the field of Ancient Roman Art and History. Those with groups of 15 or more may book a guided tour. Group reservations, including school tour reservations, can be made by calling (405) 278-8213. See the full list of programming!

The exhibition will be free for Museum members. Tickets will go on sale in the spring of 2021, with timed entry and limited capacity to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. Presales will be strongly encouraged for this high-demand North American exclusive.

This exhibition is organized by the National Archaeological Museum, Naples and MondoMostre.