Roman Art

and
Architecture
 The exam for this topic
• You will be given Achievement Merit Excellence

3 photographs Place the works Place the works Place the works
in social and/or in social and/or in social and/or
from the works historical and/or historical and/or historical and/or
studied, and a set artistic context(s) artistic context(s)
with supporting
artistic context(s)
with
of questions on evidence comprehensive
supporting
each. evidence

• You must answer Describe the Describe the

works in detail Describe the
works and
on 2 out of the 3 explain their and analyse works in detail
and evaluate
style(s) and/or their style(s)
photos techniques used and/or their style(s)
techniques used and/or
techniques used
 Introduction
• The unit will be broken up into the
following subtopics:

• Portraiture
• Religious Architecture
• Relief Sculptures
• Functional
• Mosaics
 Introduction
• ‘Art and Architecture’ is a description for
the range of material culture that comes
from ancient Rome.

• This topic looks at the art and architecture

produced in the Roman Empire from the
reign of Augustus (30BC-AD14) to
Constantine (AD 306-337)
 Introduction
• Roman Imperial sculpture, whether it was relief
(sculptured into stone) * or portrait sculpture, was meant
to be seen. It was not created for private enjoyment but
instead put in a public place to commemorate and glorify
and individual or dynasty (family rule).

• It is a powerful source of political propaganda which

generations of emperors often utilized. They modelled
themselves in stone as victorious generals, the bringers
of peace and prosperity, and later even in the image of
gods. Statues and relief sculpture were also used to
commemorate specific events and to remind the people
of their Emperor’s military skills.
Portraiture – General background
Etruscan:
• The deceased ashes were put into clay
urns, which often had human heads on the
lid
• 7th cent BC Carved full-length reclining
figures of the dead on top of a coffin
• 6th cent BC Images of the dead began to
have specific individual features
• 4th cent BC onwards: Statues and busts
were realistic
Roman
• It was custom to have wax masks of the dead to
use in funeral procession. This commemorated
the dead
• Bronze or marble copies of the death mask was
made to be displayed at home. (Only Patrician
families could afford this images of their
ancestors – this was called the ius imaginum)
• The reproduced features of the deceased were
in veristic style (a realistic depiction of an
individual’s face, and showed the qualities of
wisdom and experience, particularly on middle
aged males, a ‘warts and all’ approach)* and
showed the family likeness

• The opposite style to verism, in portraiture was

idealism (facial features are simplified, shows
and idealised and glorified version, usually of the
emperor.)*
 Patrician Carrying Busts
• Date: end of 1st cent BC or beginning 1st
cent AD (M. Wheeler & R. Hannah)
• Facts: (P. Artus book)
• Other details: (J. Campbell)
• Workbook: p.6-8