Antiquités d'Herculanum, Tome VI. Lampes et candélabres

This volume opens a vivid window onto the everyday brilliance of ancient Herculaneum, where bronze and terracotta lamps once lit homes, temples and even the chambers of gladiators. By reproducing the original engravings and pairing them with scholarly notes, the work reveals how artisans blended devotion, profession and personal taste into each tiny vessel, from humble domestic shapes to elaborate candlesticks bearing the faces of deities, Fortune or Jupiter. The commentary explains the fluid boundaries between sacred and secular use, showing that a single lamp could serve a household and a shrine alike, while the accompanying inscriptions hint at the owners’ identities and aspirations.

Beyond cataloguing forms, the text invites listeners to imagine the flickering glow that filled the rooms of a city frozen beneath volcanic ash, and to appreciate the craftsmen’s drive to create beauty in objects of ordinary need. By tying these tiny artefacts to broader artistic trends, the author demonstrates how the spirits of ancient creators continue to inspire modern appreciation for the intertwining of function and artistry.