the Corner of the Villa 1889

Edward John Poynter made this late 19th-century painting with oil paints. Look closely, and you’ll see that marble sets the tone for the entire composition. Poynter meticulously renders its cool smoothness in paint, contrasting it with the soft, flowing fabrics draped on the figures. Marble was quarried and transported, then shaped and polished by skilled laborers. Its presence here speaks to the power and wealth of the Roman elite, who could afford to adorn their villas with this luxurious material. But beyond the display of opulence, the marble also has a social significance. It provides a backdrop for scenes of leisure, hinting at the complex relationships between labor and class. The figures recline amidst this grandeur, seemingly detached from the work that produced their surroundings. Considering the making and materiality of this painting encourages us to think about its social context, challenging conventional distinctions between art and craft.