In the first style (also called the “Masonry Style” and the “Incrustation Style”) of Roman wall painting, the walls are painted to seem as though they are covered with colorful stones, especially marble slabs and masonry blocks. Such stones were typically seen in more upper class homes. Thus, this style means to project the wealth of the villa owner. The first style accentuates the flatness of the wall with panels that imitate imported, and therefore expensive, stone. This emphasis on flatness changes drastically in the second style. The example image that I show is from the Samnite Villa from Herculaneum. This wonderfully preserved wall painting shows the different colored blocks.