Download Roman Art and Architecture Historical Background

Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
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Original: c. 310 BCE,
Roman copy c. 100 BCE
Floor Mosaic based on
Greek Mural, found in
Pompeii
Complex interweaving of
characters
Alexander at left is assured
of success; Darius at right
concedes while army flees
Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
Roman Art and
Architecture
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Rome’s history is a rise from a humble
village to a world power
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Originally ruled by kings, who were
overthrown and replaced with a Senate
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Well-executed wars increased Rome’s
fortunes and boundaries
Historical Background
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Greece absorbed in 146 BCE
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Civil war caused by death of Julius Caesar – his
adopted son Octavian eventually became
Emperor in 27 BCE
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Rome remains an Empire until the city is sacked
in 410 CE
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Pompeii’s preservation allows us to know more of
daily life in Rome than of any other civilization
◦ Greek culture and art valued by Romans
◦ Much Roman art is little more than copying of Greek
work
Background
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117 BCE- First time in history a single
government will rule an empire from the Nile
to the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Tigris and
Euphrates to Danube and Thames and
beyond.
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No government before or after used art so
effectively as a political tool.
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Roman General Trajan, led the Imperial Army
to victory far west and east; thus, Rome
unites cultures far and wide.
More background
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Territory spanned 3
continents
Millions of people,
diverse languages;
numerous races;
variety of cultures
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Britons, Gauls,
Greeks, Egyptians,
Africans, Syrians,
Jews, Christians, etc.
Some more background
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Roman monuments and architecture are the
most conspicuous and numerous remains of
any ancient civilization.
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Today, Roman temples and basilicas are
repurposed as churches.
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Remains of concrete buildings are
incorporated into the architecture of
restaurants, houses, factories, stores,
museums and more.
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Roman amphitheaters stage bull fights,
sports events, operas, and concerts.
A little more background
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Ships continue to dock in what were once Roman
ports
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Western Europe’s highway system still closely
follows the routes of Roman roads
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Roma law, government, calendar, language, even
money live on in the Western world
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Roman artwork effectively drives modern political
campaigns- the idea of manipulation
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Roman mastery of concrete construction guides
developers today.
You guessed it!
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Romulus and Remus- twins who, according to
legend, founded the empire on the Tiber
River on April 21, 753 BCE.
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Caput Mundi- head or capital of the world
some hundreds of years later.
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However, in the 8th century, Rome was
essentially an Etruscan city. Small huts made
of mud and brick dotted the countryside.
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Much work done in terra cotta early on.
History
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Reflects the pride and ambition of a massive empire
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Monumental buildings and sculptures glorify gods and state
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A history of Roman painting survives on walls of Pompeiian
villas
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Basic elements of perspective and foreshortening
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Foreshortening, method of rendering a specific object or
figure in a picture in depth. The artist records, in varying
degrees, the distortion that is seen by the eye when an
object or figure is viewed at a distance or at an unusual
angle.
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Greatly indebted to Greeks
Key Ideas
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State and wealthy individuals spent majorly
on their homes; however, they also fully
supported artists- very generous to public
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Demand for Greek works, HUGE workshops
are created to accommodate production
Many works are imported directly from
Greece
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Homes were stages to display lavish wealth.
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509 BCE: overthrow last of the Etruscan
kings, Tarquinius Superbus, and establish
Republic
Patronage
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Power mainly vested in Senate- literally a council of
elders, senior citizens, and two elected consuls.
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A consul was the highest elected political office of
the Roman Republic. Each year, two consuls were
elected together, to serve for a one-year term.
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Under extreme cases, a dictator could be appointed.
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Patricians- wealthy landowners
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Later- rulers also from plebeians (small farmers,
merchants, freed slaves)
Republic
Architectural Innovations
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Barrel vault- extended in space, forms a continuous
tunnel-like construction
Groin vault- intersection of two barrel vaults in which
a large, open-space is formed.
 *Important because can be supported with only 4
corner piers(vertical support)
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Spandrels- spaces between the arches on the piers
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*Arches and vaults make enormous buildings
possible.
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*Arches were used occasionally in Mesopotamia much
earlier; post-and-lintel still the norm until Romans
extend use of the arch and vault.
Innovations
House of the Vettii (*IS)
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The Domus played a key role is the
Roman Republic. Not just a home, but a
stage. Reinforced the social order. Patron
(patronus) would receive his clients
(clientes) in the atrium. Much pressure to
have the best display of wealth as clients
could discuss.
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Originally built 2nd century
BCE, rebuilt ca. 62 – 79 CE
Owned by two brothers –
freedmen who became
merchants
Axial symmetry – anyone
entering can see straight
through house to garden
in the rear (modern
comparison?)
No exterior windows –
lighting comes from atrium
and peristyle garden in
rear
House of the Vettii (*IS)
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Atrium served as a
reception area and is
open to sky – center of
floor is an impluvium
or catch basin
Cubicula radiate
around garden – this is
the home’s private
area
House of the Vettii (*IS)
Painting Styles
Painting Styles
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Ca. 75 – 50 BCE
Realistic portrayal (where
have we seen this?)
A veristic portrait
Features suggest
experience and wisdom
Head of a Roman Patrician (*IS)
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Ca.80 – 90 CE
Example of elaborate
hairstyles in vogue at time
Flavian Woman (*CS)
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20 CE, marble copy of
bronze original
Idealized view of Augustus
◦ Compare with Doryphorous
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Sense of divine rule, blurring
of god and man
Armor shows he is a warrior;
judge’s robes show he is a
civic ruler
At base – Cupid on dolphin,
showing his descent from
Venus
Augustus of Prima Porta (*IS)
106 – 112 CE
 Built by Apollodorus of Damascus to
commemorate Trajan’s victory of the
Dacians
 Central plaza flanked by stoas
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Forum of Trajan (*IS)
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385’x112’ (huge
interior space)
Wide nave, two apses
Contained galleries,
law courts
Timber roof 80’ wide
Named for Trajan’s
family (birth name:
Marcus Ulpius
Traianus)
Basilica Ulpia (*IS)
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Multilevel mall with
over 150 shops
Semicircular
construction
Main space is groinvaulted; shops
placed in barrel
vaults
Markets of Trajan (*IS)
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Trajan’s tomb – ashes
buried in base
128 feet high, narrative
around column tells his
victory over Dacians
Low relief; scholars
unsure how upper parts
were viewed
Interior staircase
allowed visitors to climb
to top
Column of Trajan (*IS)
Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)
(*IS)
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72 – 80 CE
Seated 50,000
Concrete Core, brick case, travertine
facing
76 entrances
Used for violent spectacles but not
religious persecution
Façade has engaged columns, each level
is a different order
Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)
(*IS)
The Pantheon (*IS)
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The Pantheon
118 – 125 CE
Dedicated to all
gods
Corinthian capital
with two pediments
Square coffers and
floor panels
contrast with the
roundness of walls
Built with variety of
concretes to lighten
structure
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Ca. 250-260 CE
Very crowded
surface; figures lack
individuality
Reflects confusion of
battle
Romans defeat
barbarians
General is
helmetless;
indicating
invincibility
Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus