ROMAN ART & ARCHITECTURE

Introduction and Overview

IMPORTANT TERMS

City of Rome

Started out as a small settlement on the banks of the Tiber

River in southern Italy

Gradually grew in both size and influence, eventually

commanding large portions of Europe, the Middle East and

North Africa

Functioned as the centre of government during the

Republican period, as well as during the period of the

Empire until the 3rd century AD

IMPORTANT TERMS

Republican Rome

Covers the period between 509-49 BC, during which time

Rome evolved from a small settlement into a the centre of a

massive empire

The Republican system was built on the participation of

those who held Roman citizenship, and aimed to govern in

their best interests

Eventually, the size of the empire meant that the Republican

system could no longer function effectively – led to the

emergence of generals as the main power figures and the

rise of the Roman Empire

IMPORTANT TERMS

Roman Empire

The likes of Crassus, Julius Caesar, Pompey, Cicero and Cato

were among those responsible for the ending of the

Republican system

Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar, defeated his rivals

after the death of his uncle and became the “Emperor” of

Rome

Octavian ensured that the rule of the Roman Empire

remained within his family, despite his claims to have

restored the Republic – effectively became the first ruler of

a family dynasty

MAP OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

MAP OF ROME

MAP OF ROME – CITY CENTRE

ART & ARCHITECTURE - OUTSIDE INFLUENCE

As Rome was a dominant global force for much of its

existence, it was heavily influenced by a wide array of

cultures

In terms of art and architecture, Greek culture and

style had the greatest impact on Rome

Greek craftsmen and artisans were lucratively employed by

the Romans, and many Roman statues, building and

monuments were either copies of or inspired by existing

Greek works

THE SPEARBEARER

Roman copy of a sculpture by Polykleitos(440 BC)

Statue is considered a classic example of Greek sculpture – focus on exact anatomy and body positioning

Subject stepping forward with one foot, would have been holding a spear in his left hand

AUGUSTUS OF PRIMA PORTA

Sculptor has used the basic shape of the Spearbearer to create this statue

Like the Spearbearer, Augustus is stepping forward and there is an emphasis on body shape and positioning

Only small adjustments were made to turn the Spearbearer into this particular statue

IMPERIAL RELIEF SCULPTURE

Production of an image through carving away at a

surface until an image appears, raised out of the

original material

This image was then incised with great amounts of detail,

including facial features, clothing, etc.

Relief sculpture was used prominently on state monuments,

such as columns, triumphal arches, temples and ceremonial

altars, ie. the Ara Pacis Augustae

THE ARA PACIS AUGUSTAE

ROMAN ART AS SYMBOLISM

Roman art and architecture, beyond serving practical purposes, often had important symbolic meaning

Emperors and generals used things such as temples, arches and columns as glorified propaganda pieces designed to display their own greatness

When depicted in bust or statue form, many emperors chose to be portrayed in the form of gods or heroes from the past, ie. Commodus as Herakles

ARCH OF TITUS

This carving shows Emperor Titus returning from the freshly

conquered Jerusalem, bearing a treasure from the Temple at

Jerusalem and accompanied by a god

COMMODUS AS HERAKLES

The son of Marcus Aurelius,

Commodus was Emperor

180-192 AD

What message is

Commodus sending by

associating himself with

Herakles - wearing the lion

skin, carrying the club and

carrying the “Apples of

Immortality”?

ROMAN BUILDINGS - ARCHES

A common feature used in Roman architecture of both

the Republic and Empire is the arch

The use of arches make for very sturdy structures, and

enabled the Romans to construct a wide variety of buildings

Arches enabled builders to enclose large spaces with a roof,

without cluttering floor space with supporting columns

In addition to increasing size and structural integrity, arches

allowed light to enter building naturally (ie. the Pantheon)

ROMAN BUILDINGS – ARCHES

1. Keystone 2. Voussoir 3. Extrados 4. Impost 5. Intrados 6. Rise 7. Clear Span 8.

Abutment

VAULT

A series of arches built one behind the other

Creates a tunnel that can be used either in the design of a

building or act as the roof of the building itself

CROSS VAULT

Two vaults built perpendicular to one another

Like vaults, used for the roof buildings and things like

hallways, passages, etc.

A ROTATED ARCH – THE DOME

By “rotating” an arch, builders were able to create

domes, and thus could cover large areas with little or

no internal support