Etruscan Art
ca. 700 - 510 B.C.E.
Republican Rome
509 - 27 B.C.E.
Imperial Rome
27 B.C.E. - 337
Using Greek colonies as models
The Etruscans shifted from village life to urban civilization
Etruscan cities
are hidden underneath the modern cities of central Italy
Tumulus
type of tomb is characteristic for Etruscan culture: round structure that has been partially excavated and covered with earth
tufa rock
a soft stone originally formed in through volcanic eruptions
Interior of an Etruscan tumulus tomb
rock-cut tomb with brightly painted plaster reliefs representing weapons, tools, kitchen utensils, etc.
Founding myth of Rome
Romulus and Remus
Bronze and terracotta
materials of choice of Etruscan artists
paving the way for Roman dominance in in the Mediterranean
Defeat of Carthage by Rome during the Punic Wars
administration, building of infrastructure (roads, harbors, foundation of new cities), foundation of Western concepts of law and government; calendar, language
Roman skills
Roman admiration for Greek culture and art
Romans start reproducing Greek art on large scale
veritas
literalness, verism
severitas
severity
plebeians
common people
patricians
aristocratic leadership class
penates
household gods
Roman civic identity was expressed in
architecture and city planning
concrete
a Roman invention
The arch
major Roman innovation
several arches are placed next to each other
an arcade
several arches are stacked up one behind the other
a vault
knowledge about daily life in Republic Rome
from the town of Pompeii and neighboring Herculaneum
major volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius occurred on
August 24, 79 C.E.
Rediscovered in the mid-18th century
Pompeii
Pompeian Fourth Style
narrative panels, trompe-l'oeil architectural vistas, and stone imitation paneling; influenced by Roman theater design
Pax Romana
Roman Peace" for 150 years
introduction of Christianity
in 313, to official state religion in 380
division of Roman Empire
beginning of Byzantine era in 395
Official religion of Imperial Rome
Cult of the Emperor, Emperors were seen as god-like
Forum Romanum
the center of Roman political, business & social life
triumphal arch
commemorate their military victories; associated with the rule of a specific emperor
oculus
round opening in the ceiling
Water
played a very important role in Roman civilization
Diocletian divides Empire into Eastern and Western half
form the four tetrarchs
Porphyry
extremely hard stone; rendering, frontal pose are almost regressions to archaic simplicity
Sarcophagus, (Cerveteri, Italy),
ca. 520 B.C.E., Terracotta (baked
clay)
ca. 500 B.C.E.
Head of a Roman, ca. 80 B.C.E., marble
Synthesis of Greek (Ionic columns) and Etruscan architectural elements
Outer appearance remains Greek: Corinthian order
One of the very earliest examples for Roman innovations in building techniques
Typical example of a Pompeian town house with atrium, opening in the roof
ca. 50 B.C.E.
reveals how much Roman art was predicated on the admiration of Greek models
Another monument ("altar"=ara) to celebrate Augustan peace (pacis augustae)
amphitheater consisting of two semi-circular theaters enclosing an oval arena; movable sun cover
Emperor Titus returning from conquest of Jerusalem
sponsored by Emperor Trajan to celebrate his two successful campaigns against the Dacians
only building which has been in continuous use since classical antiquity to the present day
Monumentality of later Roman art and architecture
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, Capitoline Hill, Rome, 165, bronze
originally located in the Philadelphion of Constantinople
Al-Khazneh (the "Treasury"), rock-cut
mausoleum, Petra (Jordan), 2nd century
granted Christians tolerance; he also moved the capital of the (reunified) Roman Empire to Constantinople
Shift to the Medieval and decline of classical ideals: Rigid formality, repetition, flatness, static composition, lack of proportionality mark the shift
The Porta Nigra ("Black Gate"), Trier
(Germany), ca. 280-310