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

Here and there the toothed contours of the leaves were completed, following the light and shade conditions, with the application of a thin, dark ochre yellow strip. The nervure of the leaves as well as the stems of the leaves joint to the tendrils are represented with light yellow colour. The motifs at the bottom of the candelabrum were painted usually with a great impetus and lighter touches, while the ones at higher places were painted by a more painstaking elaboration and with more precise touches. The widest and best elaborated picture field was the one at eye-level. The picture fields above and below it were a bit deformed to give an impression that the candelabrum was higher. The decoration of the dado of the wall-painting The main- and the pedestal zones were separated from each other by a wider white strip, the fragments do not refer to the presence of a closing green strip. The continuous picture band was divided, like in the main zone, to five fields. In this phase of the reconsrtuction it seems that the fields had not been separated from each other by a definite vertical line but they had connected to the division of the main zone by the application of different motifs and figures, thus indicating the length of the picture fields. The horizontal division of the pedestal was made with the aid of the green bottom-line which served at the same time also to separate from each other the picture band and so-called "dirt strip", in German "Schmutzstreifen". The "dirt strip" was a uniform, black strip without decoration. On the basis of one of the pedestal fragments the green band,

229 running horizontally over the middle zone and vertically along the two margins of it did not continue beside the pedestal.

230 On the pedestal every painted motif and figure was placed separated. The fragments refer to the representation of birds living in a water-side and in the land as well as marsh-plants, sedges. Among the fowls the fragment of the foot and head of a duck

231 and part of the head of a stork

232 can be detected. On a fragment belonging also to this painting the red crest of a cock can be seen.

233 The representations suggest the display of animals of the household, the stork, like, nowadays, might built a nest on some higher ground near the estate, therefore it, too belonged to the animals living around the villa. On the pedestal bushes and shrubs with different leaves are represented. On the leaves

234 painted with undulating touches the light and shade effect was brought about by yellow, dark green and light green colours, similarly to the painting of the vine-leaves of the candelabrums. From the bushes white, yellow, red and pink flowers stand out extending as far as the top of the picture strip, thus turning the sedge with a monotonous tonality into a more colourful, bright picture.

235 The leaves

236 of the other bush with straight leaves also reached the margin betwen the two fields, the elaboration of the flowers belonging to the bush has a different character.

237 It is possible that the flowers did not belong in every instance to the bush, they could be also some other flowers growing beside or among them as well, which would explain the different petals. Among the fragments came to light from the excavations of S. Palágyi I found a piece the mortar and the background colour of which suggest that it belonged to the decoration of the pedestal of the Red Dining Room.

238 On the fragment part of a bronze vessel can be detected. And after a survey of the content of those cases which contain the material from the excavations of