From Seven Hill to Three Continents:

The Art of Ancient Rome

ART ID 111 | Study of Ancient Arts
Slide concept by William V. Ganis, PhD NYIT Center for Teaching and Learning with Technology

With modifications by Arch. Edeliza V. Macalandag, UAP

Roman Art: The earliest Roman art is generally associated with the overthrow of the Etruscan kings and the establishment of the Republic in 509 BC.

Copycats:
While the traditional view of Roman artists is that they often borrowed from, and copied Greek precedents (much of the Greek sculpture known today is in the form of Roman marble copies), more recent analysis has indicated that Roman art is a highly creative pastiche relying heavily on Greek models but also encompassing Etruscan, native Italic, and even Egyptian visual culture. Stylistic eclecticism and practical application are the hallmarks of much Roman art.

Ancient Roman Art Periods:

Republic Pompeii And The Cities Of Vesuvius Early Empire High Empire Late Empire
Major Art Forms: Architecture Painting Sculpture Mosaic Work

Republican Roman Art

Temple of Fortuna Virilis from Rome, Italy

ca. 75 B.C.E.

The surviving portraits of prominent Roman Republican figures appear to be literal reproductions of individual faces. Although their style derives to some degree form Hellenistic and Etruscan, and perhaps even Ptolemaic Egyptian, portraits, Republican portraits are one way the patrician class celebrated its elevated position in society. These patricians did not ask sculptors to make them appear nobler than they were. Instead, they requested brutally realistic images of distinctive features.

Head of a Roman patrician

ca. 75-50 B.C.E. marble approximately 1 ft. 2 in. high

It was also the practice in sculpture during the Republican period to place portrait heads on youthful, heroic bodies.

Portrait of a Roman General Tivoli, Italy

ca. 75 - 50 B.C.E. marble 6 ft. 2 in. high

dictator perpetuus

Dinarius with Portrait of Julius Caesar

44 B.C.E. silver 3/4 in.

Amphitheater
Pompeii, Italy | ca. 80 B.C.E.

First Style wall painting fauces of the Samnite House, Herculaneum, Italy
late 2nd century B.C.E. fresco

Dionysiac mystery frieze

Room 5, Pompeii, Italy | ca. 60-50 B.C.E. | fresco | frieze approximately 64 in. high

Cubiculum (bedroom)

from the villa of P. Fannius Synistor Boscoreale, Italy

ca. 40-30 B.C.E. fresco

Gardenscape from the Villa of Livia, Primaporta, Italy

ca. 30-20 B.C.E. | fresco | approximately 79 in. high

Gardenscape from the Villa of Livia, Primaporta, Italy

ca. 30-20 B.C.E. fresco approximately 79 in. high

still life with peaches Detail of 4th style wall painting Herculaneum, Italy
ca. 62-79 C.E. fresco 1 ft. 2 in. x 1 ft. 1 1/2 in.

Imperial Roman Art

Portrait of Augustus as general from Primaporta, Italy

ca. 20 B.C.E. marble 80 in. high

Head of Caesar Augustus

ca. 100 C.E. marble with traces of polychrome

Ara Pacis Augustae Rome, Italy

ca. 13-9 B.C.E. | marble | 63 in. high

Ara Pacis Augustae Rome, Italy

ca. 13-9 B.C.E. marble 63 in. high

Maison Care

Nimes, France | ca. 1-10 C.E.

Maison Care
Nimes, France | ca. 1-10 C.E.

Pont-du-Gard Nimes, France

ca. 16 B.C.E.

Pont-du-Gard

Nimes, France
ca. 16 B.C.E.

Colosseum Rome, Italy | ca. 70-80 C.E.

Colosseum Rome, Italy | ca. 70-80 C.E.

Colosseum Rome, Italy | ca. 70-80 C.E.

Arch of Titus Rome, Italy

81 C.E.

Arch of Titus Rome, Italy

81 C.E.

Portrait bust of a Flavian woman from Rome, Italy

ca. 90 C.E. marble 25 in. high

Portrait of Carcalla
ca. 211-217 C.E. marble 14 in. high

Pantheon | Rome, Italy | ca. 118-125 C.E.

Pantheon | Rome, Italy | ca. 118-125 C.E.

Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E.
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_09/Nautica/09Nautica_12.html

Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E.
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_09/Nautica/09Nautica_12.html

Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E.
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_09/Nautica/09Nautica_12.html

Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E.
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_09/Nautica/09Nautica_12.html

Al-Khazneh Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E. 2nd century C.E.
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_09/Nautica/09Nautica_12.html

Al-Khazneh Petra, Jordan

2nd century C.E.
http://img.geocaching.com/cache/a1211248-7d21-424a-8e9f-bb0e1aae90d2.jpg

Model of an Insula

Ostia, Italy | 2nd century C.E.

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius from Rome, Italy

ca. 175 C.E. bronze | 11 ft. 6 in. high

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius from Rome, Italy

ca. 175 C.E. bronze | 11 ft. 6 in. high

Mummy portrait from Faiyum, Egypt

ca. 160-170 C.E. encaustic on wood

Portrait Bust of Trajan Decius Capitolino, Rome

249-251 C.E. marble 2 ft. 7 in. high

Asiatic Sarcophagus with kline portrait of a woman

165-170 C.E. | marble | 5 ft. 7 in. high

Sarcophagus of a Philosopher
270-280 C.E. | marble | 4 ft. 11 in. high

Portraits of the four tetrarchs

St. Marks, Venice

ca. 305 C.E. | porphyry | 51 in. high

Portraits of the four tetrarchs St. Marks, Venice

ca. 305 C.E. | porphyry | 51 in. high

Arch of Constantine Rome, Italy | ca. 312-315 C.E.

Arch of Constantine Rome, Italy

ca. 312-315 C.E.

The great head is carved in a typical, abstract, Constantinian of late Roman portrait statues, whereas the other body parts are naturalistic, even down to callused toes and bulging forearm veins.

Remnants from the Colossal Statue of Constantine

from the Basilica Nova, Rome, Italy
ca. 315-330 C.E. marble head approximately 8 ft. 6 in. high

Basilica Nova

Rome, Italy | 306-312 C.E.

Aula Palatina (Basilica)

Trier, Germany | early 4th century C.E.

Aula Palatina (Basilica) Trier, Germany

early 4th century C.E.

Palace of Diocletian Split, Croatia

ca. 300 - 305 C.E.

Arch of Constantine Rome, Italy | ca. 312-315 C.E.

Some of the greatest Ancient Roman contribution(s) to the modern world

Architectural styles (arches & columns, domes, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics...) Efficient highway system (still followed today by modern roads) Mass entertainment : stadiums & amphitheatres (ancestors of modern stadiums) Aqueducts and viaducts (the world's first bridges to cross valleys) Thermal baths, central heating and floor heating Wine-making (creating a lasting tradition in France, Italy, Spain...) Roman alphabet (the world's most widespread writing system) Latin language and descendants + influence on other European languages Roman legal system (basis of many European legal system to this day) The Republic & Senate (inspiration for modern democracies) The Julian Calendar (including current names of the months) Festivals (Carnival, Christmas, etc. had Roman origins) The 3 course meal (starter, main dish, desert) Arch + Dome + Concrete

Sources http://www.wadsworth.com/art_d/templates/student_resources/015505 0907_kleiner/studyguide/ch10/ch10_1.html http://websites.swlearning.com/cgiwadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=0155 050907&discipline_number=436 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_art Art Through the Ages, 12th/11th ed., Gardner