Varietates topiorum

The purpose and subject of this dissertation is an analysis in space-representation and perspective drawing of Roman and Campanian landscape painting to develop and reconstruct the modes of landscape recognition and spatial perception structures in the late Republic and early Empire. This aim is realized with the help of interdisciplinary methods, as the possibilities, limits and developments of perspective representation are studied on the basis of descriptive geometry, its terminology and theoretical background. Therefore, a terminological framework is defined to allow a specific distinction of different forms of space representation and perspective modes. Aside from the question of the spatial structures in Roman landscape painting and their cultural background, the progress in ancient optics and ancient perspective theory is examined with the help of literary sources and architectural wall paintings. On the other hand, and in consideration of the topographical and chorographical aspects of Roman landscape painting, ancient cartography and semi- cartographic techniques are relevant and part of the analysis. In this complex constellation, between cartographic aims and approximative central perspective, Roman landscape and panorama painting takes an important place in that art historical development that considers and creates pictures as open windows to an illusionistic space with the help of perspective aids and methods.