Pompeii Casts. Victim number 11, known as "The Emaciated Child" from VIII.5.39.

A young boy, found on 24th January 1882, around 12 feet (4 metres) above the ancient ground level.

Victim numbered 11, described as “The Emaciated Child”, photographed by Giorgio Sommer in 1882. Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

VIII.5.39 Pompeii. Plaster-cast of an impression of a boy found on 24th January 1882, around 12 feet (4 metres) above the ancient ground level.

Also found nearby was a skeleton of a woman, but only her arm was successfully cast.

On her arm were two gold bracelets, and on her hand were two gold rings.

It is conjectured that she was his mother, and that he was infirm and being helped from an upper window when the surge hit Pompeii. 

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. University of Michigan Press. (pp. 98 to 103).

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1882, p.280: See BdI. 1884, pp126 sgg.

Victim number 11. Little Boy, from Illustrated London News, 80, no. 2236 (11 March 1883), p.228.

According to Mau-

“In this street was found at a height of four metres above the pavement the skeletons of a woman and a boy.

That of the boy was cast in gesso and appeared to be about twelve years of age, and of a sickly aspect.

Together with these were found two bracelets and two rings of gold.

Of these last, one had a cornucopia incised in an emerald and the other a seated Mercury in amethyst.

Also found were a small measuring cup, a sewing needle, and a coin, all of bronze.”

See Overbeck J., 1884. Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümen und Kunstwerken. Leipzig: Engelmann, p. 127.

Victim number 11. From an album dated c.1875-1885. Cast of a young child. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.