Paperback. Green board binding with black title on the spine and wall painting on the front board.

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A lovely rare early copy of this foundational book, see the photographs. In the original stiff-card wrappers. Remains well-preserved overall. Physical description: 231 pages, 6 unnumbered pages of plates: illustrations (some color); 30 cm. Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Subjects: Mural painting and decoration, Roman England. Classical antiquities. Mural painting and decoration, Roman.Mural painting and decoration, Roman Great Britain. Summary: The first author’s experience over more than 25 years in which he has restored 80 panels is recorded here, with art-historical comments by the second author. Examples from most parts of England are included in the catalogue, and the introduction discusses the nature of the evidence, dating, styles and patterns, subjects and motifs, social implications and organization of the work, techniques of plasterers and painters, and techniques of recovery and restoration.

Review: Anyone needing to know about Roman wall plaster should start with this book. It covers all aspects – the techniques of the plasters and painters, recovery and restoration, dating, styles and patterns, social implications etc. This is followed by an extensive catalogue of Roman-British wall paintings, which includes both photos and drawings. There are also a selection of colour plates and also a fiche in colour (but for this you need to track down a fiched reader). This is a very good book to get to grips with RB wall painting before following up on more recent discoveries during the 30 years since its publication. Anyone not needing the detail of this book and wanting only an introduction, might find the Shire Archaeology booklet on Romano-British Wall Painting by Ling a more digestible and cheaper alternative (and it clearly benefits from the knowledge and expertise that went into this volume).

The only reason I haven’t given it 5 stars is because of the fiche and the fact that 30 years has passed since publication. Neither being the authors’ fault. Perhaps time for a second edition or a supplementary catalogue of recent discoveries.