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The Roman Empire
Aerial views of Solider Field, Chicago & the Colosseum, Rome, ca. 70-80CE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1UmHfWCw-4
Gladiator, 2000, Ridley Scott
Head of an old man, mid-first century BCE.
Roman Realism
Fayum mummy portrait, 2nd century CE, Louvre Museum
Pont du Gard, Nimes, France, 40-60 CE
With the Greeks, there’s always an aesthetic element. I prefer the virile Realism of Rome, which doesn’t embellish. The truthfulness of Roman art-It’s like their buildings, but all the more beautiful in their genuine simplicity. -Pablo Picasso
The Roman Empire
Map of the Roman Empire, 2nd century CE
Republic = 509 – 27 BCE (ended with Augustus) Early Empire = 27 BCE – 96 CE High Empire = 96 – 192 CE
Before Rome – The Etruscans
Apulu (Apollo), ca. 510-500BCE. Fig. 3-3.
Praxiteles Aphrodite of
Knidos, ca. 350-340BCE.
Roman ArtDates and Places: • 509BCE-337CE• Italian peninsula, Western
Europe, Near EastPeople:• Republic (senate and elected
consuls)→Empire• Polytheistic (Greek and
Etruscan gods become Roman, e.g. Tinia (Etruscan) to Zeus (Greek) to Jupiter (Roman)
• Military expansion spreads culture
• Greek “craze” (began 3rd century BCE)
Model of the city of Rome during the fourth century CE. Fig. 3-9.
ColosseumForum of Trajan
Arch of Constantine
Roman ArtThemes:• Portraits• Gods and rituals• Homes, civic buildings,
temples
Forms:• Verism, idealism,
perspective • Concrete construction• Etruscan influence• Greek influence
Still Life with peaches, Herculaneum,Italy, 62-79 CE
The Republic - Pompeii
Left: Aerial view of Pompeii, second century BCE. Fig. 3-12.Right: Aerial view of the amphitheater, Pompeii, ca. 70BCE. Fig. 3-13.
Left: Atrium of the House of the Vettii, 62-79CE. Fig. 3-15.Right: Restored view and plan of a typical Roman house. Fig. 3-16.
The Republic - Pompeii
Impluvium (basin)
Cubiculum (bedroom)
atrium
peristyle(colonnade)
• Pompeii typical Roman city• Civic center is forum (public square) and
basilica (administrative center, law court) • Amphitheater (“double theater”) supported
by concrete barrel vaults• Two-story colonnade• Elite live in inward-looking domus (most live
in apartment buildings)• Central atrium (partially open), axial plan• Mural painting on interior walls of homes
and businesses• Covered by eruption from Mt. Vesuvius in
79 CE, preserved under ash
Aerial view of Pompeii, second century BCE. Fig. 3-12.
The Republic - Pompeii
Atrium of the House of the Vettii, 62-79CE. Fig. 3-15.
• Second style mural painting• Illusion of three-dimensional
world via linear perspective• Atmospheric perspective for
hazy distance• Celebration of rites of
Dionysus (Greek god, Roman Bacchus) by women
• Mortals and gods• Unofficial mystery religion• Initiation ceremony (winged
nude woman whips kneeling woman)
Dionysiac mystery frieze, ca. 60-50BCE. Fig. 3-18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyz0kM25uoc
Pompeii: Life and Death in a Roman TownBBC
The Republic - Pompeii
Roman Art: Early Empire
Portrait of Augustus as general, early first century BCE. Fig. 3-1.
Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)ca. 450-440BCEGreek
Roman Art: Early Empire• Emperor and pontifex
maximus (chief priest of state) following defeat of Cleopatra and Marc Antony
• Pax Romana (two centuries of peace)
• Idealized (youthful) imperial portrait molds public opinion (political propaganda)
• Orator pose• In contrapposto like the
Spear Bearer• Cupid for divine lineage• Military victory on
breastplate (overParthians)
Portrait of Augustus as general, early first century BCE. Fig. 3-1.
Aule Metele (Arringatore)1st century BCE, Etruscan
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/roman-sculpture.html
Roman Art: Early Empire
Ara Pacis Augustae, Altar of Augustan Peace, Rome, 13-9 BCE
Corinthian capitals(Greek)
Roman Art: Early Empire Procession of the Imperial family, detail from south frieze, Ara Pacis Augustae13 BCE, Roman
Elders and Maidens, detail of Panathenaic Festival procession east frieze, 3’6”, Parthenon, Greek
Frieze = part of theentablature betweenthe architrave and cornice; anysculptured or paintedband in a building.
Roman Art: Early Empire
Aerial view of the Colosseum, ca. 70-80CE, RomeFig. 3-28.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ycODdZkRpQ&feature=relmfu
Roman Art: Early Empire• Flavian dynasty (Vespasian)• Built to gain public approval• Gladiatorial combats, naval battles
(arena flooded), etc• 50,000 spectators entered through
80 entrances/exits (tarp cover during bad weather)
• Substructures included waiting rooms
• Concrete barrel-vaulted skeleton• Arches flanked by engaged
columns and lintel• Tuscan Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian
on first three tiers• Greek orders + Roman arcade
Detail of the façade of the Colosseum, 70-80CE. Fig. 3-29.
160’
Column of Trajan & detail,
112CE. Fig. 3-35.
Roman Art: High Empire
128’
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/column-of-trajan.html
Roman Art: High Empire• First High Emperor Trajan (Spaniard)
enlarges empire • Creates forum with temple, basilica,
equestrian portrait, market nearby• Column with Trajan’s victories in 625’ spiral
narrative frieze (150 episodes, 2,500 figures, not chronological)
• In low relief, simple scenes of war preparation and battles
• Monument to Roman military prowess (records Dacian military campaigns)
• Nude sculpture of emperor once set on top• Originally held Trajan and wife’s ashes in
base
Column of Trajan, 112CE.
Fig. 3-35.
Apollodorus of Damascus,
Forum of Trajan, 112CE.
Fig. 3-34.
Roman Art: High Empire
Restored cutaway view of the Pantheon, 118-125CE. Fig. 3-38.
142’ tall
142’ diameter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfyO1w96lUo
Roman Art: High Empire• Temple of all the gods• Built by Hadrian (Spaniard)• Concrete • Colonnaded courtyard• Porch with Corinthian columns and
pediment• Cylindrical drum, hemispherical dome (142’
diameter, pumice to lighten, decreased thickness toward top (coffering))
• 30’ diameter oculus (eye = opening at top)• Architecture of space, not mass• Symbolic = intersection of earth (drum,
horizontal circle) and dome (heavens, vertical circle)
• Dramatic use of light, reflects movement of sun
Pantheon, 118-125CE. Fig. 3-
38.
Roman Art: High Empire
Equestrian status of Marcus Aurelius, ca. 175CE. Fig. 3-40.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.”
-Marcus Aurelius
Roman Art: High Empire• Equestrian portrait (only one of this
size to survive)• Gilded bronze• Superhuman scale (Aurelius enlarged)• Gesture of greeting and authority• Animated & balanced (right arm and
right leg of horse raised)• Introspective verism (realism) -
detailed anatomy of man (face, individualized expression) and horse
• Character of Marcus Aurelius important
• Wrote Meditations, philosophical treatise
• Thought to represent Constantine so not melted after advent of Christianity
• Significantly influenced Renaissance artists
Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, ca. 175CE. 11’6”
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/equestrian-sculpture-of-marcus-aurelius.html
Roman Art: Late Empire• Empire in decline in late imperial
era (3rd and 4th century CE)• Rise of Christianity (Edict of
Milan, ending persecution of Christians, in 313 CE
• Constantine, a Christian, founded “New Rome” (renamed Byzantine, Constantinople)
• Beginning of Middle Ages• Basilica with colossal portrait of
emperor (also baths and arch)• Fragments remain• Absolute ruler (idealized image
of eternal authority)Portrait of Constantine, ca. 315-330CE. 8’6”. Fig. 3-48.