The ‘third style’ is also called the ‘ornamental style.’
Rich but delicate decorations characterized the taste of the reign of Augustus, between the end of the first century B.C. and the early decades of the first century A.D. The architectural representation is even less realistic. The division of the wall into skirting board, middle section and upper section becomes conventional, and each register takes on its own artistic autonomy. The middle section is treated as the most important. Slender columns or candleholders act as frames for the central panels containing mythological scenes.
The borders are richly detailed, with lotus flowers and colored motifs. The most commonly used decorative elements are floral ornaments, miniature heads, masks, and Egyptian motifs, as well as meticulously described gardens.
