Books by John R. Clarke

Presents a range of houses, from tenements to villas, and shows us how enduring patterns of Roman wall decoration bear the cultural, religious, and social imprints of the people who lived with them. This work guides us through four centuries of Roman wall painting, mosaic and stucco decoration, from the period of the Four Styles (100 BC to AD 79).

In this illustrated study, John R. Clarke investigates an assortment of Roman erotic art to answer the question of what sex meant to the ancient Romans. The text re-evaluates our understanding of Roman art and society in a study informed by gender and cultural studies.

Brings to life the ancient Romans whom modern scholarship has largely ignored: slaves, ex-slaves, foreigners, and the freeborn working poor. Written for a wide audience, this book illuminates the dynamics of a discerning and sophisticated population, overturning much accepted wisdom about them, and opening our eyes to their cultural diversity.