K. Palágyi Sylvia szerk.: Balácai Közlemények 2008/10. (Veszprém, 2008)
KIRCHHOF, ANITA: The decorative system and reconstruction of the red dining room at Baláca - A balácai vörös ebédlő dekorációs rendszere és rekonstrukciója
representarions of slim columns lapped around by coloured ribbons can be found among the wall-paintings of the third and Fourth Pompeian .Style. 202 However, these columns are not so conspicuous as the ones of the Second Style. 203 The major red panels of the wall-painting excavated under the Cathedral in Cologne, too, were bordered by columns. 204 In the analogous representations it is conspicuous that he decorated, stylized columns formed not the border of the candelabrums but that of the major panels of the main picture field. On the Baláca wallpainting, however, it is obvious that the columns served as the borders of the candelabrums, partly because they are present at each side of the candelabrums, partly because at the outer edges of the lateral narrower panels we can reconstruct a green closing strip and there are no fragments which would suggest the presence of the starting part of another candelabrum or of another column. Furthermore the red panels were closed from above by a green strip, which is proved by one of the fragments of the picture field with the mushrooms and by the parts of the green strip below the painted plaster strip, therefore the black picture fields of the candelabrums could not be continued over the red panels. Besides, among the fragments derived from the candelabrum pictures the column decoration can be ovserved at the edges in every instance. The closest analogous representation of the decoration of the columns at Baláca can be seen on the upper closing of the Balatonfüred stucco decoration, where not red-blue but red-green similary painted ribbons alternate which other. 205 (Fig. 27) The distance between the ribbons around the candelabrums was about 8,5 cm, 206 which, towards the top of the candelabrum most probably diminished became slightly narrower. 207 On the lateral wall of the house XVII. in Emona we find a similar arrangement, that is there, too, columns decorated with ribbons bordered directly the candelabrum. In this wall-painting two columns facing each other are represented, the ribbons are lapped around them in an opposite direction. 208 Beside the closed, homogeneous red panels of the main picture field the candelabrums bordered by columns with their rich vegetation patterns created a sight for the spectator as if between the columns of a peristylium he could cast a glance into a garden or into a vineyard waiting for harvest. This kind of "glancing out", in German "Durchblick", is a usual feature of the wall-painting of the Fourth Pompeian Style, though with some difference, that is in Pompeii the "openings" between the panels were decorated with perspectival architecture. 209 On the basis of the fragments in the inner part of the candelabrum vine-stocks trained on a trellis covered with bunches of red grape, ready for harvest are represented on a black background. On the basis of the few known fragments and of the few ones which fit together, the most plausible recontruction is: the lower part of the candelabrum had the form of the leaves of a plant, with different colours (e.g.: a green centre and blue margins). (Fig. 20) A detail of a candelabrum representation with similar construction is known from the perspectival architecture of the so-called Yellow-Lilac Room from Baláca. 210 The green colour may suggest an imitation of bronze candelabrum footings. 2 " The nervure of the leaves and the light and shade effect on them is brought about by white lines. The claspers and leaves of the plant trained to climb up the candelabrum curving symmetrically fill in the space. The plants were painted with light, light touches. We know one fragment on which both the vine-shoot and part of a candelabrum can be detected, testifying their connection. 212 (Fig. 21) On the basis of the curves of the vine-tendrils we may state that at the two margins of the picture field in a
