lecture, ancient rome

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.


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.


Atrium of the House of the Vettii, 62-79CE. Fig. 3-15.

Dionysiac mystery frieze, ca. 60-50BCE, Villa of the Mysteries


• 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





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


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.


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.


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.


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.

lecture, ancient rome

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