In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii. However, this catastrophe also led to the preservation of the city. From the 18th century onwards, archaeological excavations made it possible for the general public to study ancient cultures through objects. This was mainly thanks to Johann Joachim Winkelmann (1717-1768). The Dane Petzoldt is surprising us by showing a barren landscape and a massive mountain behind a wall in an oil study instead of ancient fragments or wall paintings in the area of Pompeii.