Pouring liquid plaster of Paris into the hollow voids left by decomposed organic matter beneath volcanic ash allowed Giuseppe Fiorelli to create permanent replicas of victims trapped during the eruption of Vesuvius. This methodological breakthrough turned anonymous cavities within the archaeological site of Pompeii into human-scale records of final moments, clothing, and posture.
Political Imprisonment and Academic Work
Born in Naples in 1823, Fiorelli initially conducted archaeological investigations at Pompeii in 1848. His unorthodox approach and nationalist political stance brought him into direct conflict with King Ferdinand II, resulting in his imprisonment. While incarcerated, he authored the three-volume History of Pompeian Antiques, published between 1860 and 1864. Following the unification of Italy, he transitioned into academic life as a professor of archaeology at the University of Naples Federico II.
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Upon becoming director of excavations in 1860, Fiorelli oversaw the transition of Pompeii from a private royal resource to a state-managed site. He shifted the mechanical focus of digging from the streets upward to excavating houses from the top down, a technique that significantly improved structural preservation. To organize the sprawling city, he implemented a hierarchical address system utilizing 'regiones', 'insulae', and 'domus' to identify individual structures. He also institutionalized the documentation of frescoes, notably commissioning Geremia Discanno to create detailed copies of wall paintings uncovered between 1870 and 1872.
Institutional Leadership and Legacy
Fiorelli served as director of the Naples National Archaeological Museum from 1863 and was appointed director general of Italian Antiquities and Fine Arts in 1875, holding this role until his death in 1896. He established a training school for foreign and Italian scholars to standardize archaeological practices. His tenure attracted prominent researchers, including August Mau, who later developed the decorative style categories for Pompeian paintings. A numismatist as well, Fiorelli produced several catalogs on Greek and ancient Italian coins during his career.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 June 1823, Naples
- Died: 28 January 1896, Naples
- Museum Director: 1863-1875
- Senator of the Kingdom of Italy: 1865
- Known for: Plaster cast (calchi) process
- Award: Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts
- Languages: Italian, Latin
Questions readers ask
What is the Fiorelli process?
It is a technique for creating plaster casts from hollow cavities left by decomposed bodies and organic materials found in volcanic ash.
How did Fiorelli change site management at Pompeii?
He ended the practice of extracting artifacts for private royal collections and implemented a systematic grid-based cataloging method for the entire city.
Achievements
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
- Held posts at University of Naples Federico II
- Fields of research: Pompeii, ancient history, archaeology and museology
