author
August Mau
1840–1909
Best known for helping readers see Pompeii as a living city rather than a ruin, this German archaeologist and art historian became a key guide to Roman wall painting. His work shaped the famous classification of Pompeian painting styles and brought the ancient city vividly to a wider public.
1 Audiobook
Pompeii, Its Life and Art
by August Mau
About the author
Born in Kiel on October 15, 1840, August Mau was a German art historian and archaeologist who built his reputation through the study of ancient Roman art. He worked with the German Archaeological Institute in Rome and devoted much of his career to Pompeii, where he examined the wall paintings preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius.
Mau is especially remembered for organizing Pompeian wall painting into the four styles still associated with his name. That framework gave later scholars a clear way to discuss the development of Roman decorative art, and it remains one of his most lasting contributions.
He also wrote for general readers as well as specialists. His book Pompeii: Its Life and Art helped introduce the buried city's streets, houses, and paintings to a broad audience, making him an important bridge between academic archaeology and popular history. He died in Rome on March 6, 1909.