Art Through the Ages Chapter 10-1 From Seven Hills to Three Continents The Art & Architecture of the Romans

Goals Understand both innovations and derivations in Roman art and architecture Relate aspects of Roman culture and its influence on contemporary life Illustrate examples of Roman art and its place in Roman history Discuss Roman architectural contributions Understand the impact of the Roman Empire on the world Cite artistic terminology relating to the Roman period

New Vocabulary Concrete Forum Groined vault Barrel vault Dome Basilica Nave Clerestory Apse Atrium Domus Insula

The Roman Empire At its greatest extent, the Roman Empire stretched from Mesopotamia in the east to Spain in the west, and from North Africa in the south to Britain in the north. The Roman Empire was a "multicultural" entity. The village founded by Romulus on April 21, 753 BCE grew over a period of 900 years to become the capital of the greatest empire the world had ever known Roman art and architecture influenced the Modern World. A major Roman building innovation was concrete construction.

THE REPUBLIC A Republic was established following the expulsion of the Etruscan kings in 509 BCE Power was vested mainly in a senate and in two elected consuls. During the Republic, the Romans developed a special interest in and taste for Greek art. Architecture Roman Temple architecture shows a blending of Etruscan and Greek features, and emphasizes the front of the building.

Rome, Italy, ca. 75 BCE. made of stone (tufa and travertine) overlaid with stucco This was actually the Temple Portunes – Roman god of keys, doors and later ports and harbors The high podium, is accessible only from the front, with its wide flight of steps. The columns are ionic in the front with engaged columns on the sides (pseudoperipteral) Temple of “Fortuna Virilis” (Manly Fortune) Etruscan elements are the high podium, deep porch, and wide cella. But the cella is not subdivided into 3 parts, it is one unified space.

Temple of “Fortuna Virilis” (Manly Fortune) Rome, Italy, ca. 75 BCE. made of stone (tufa and travertine) overlaid with stucco SmART History video – Temple of Portunus

Common Plan for Roman Temple: Roman Temples needed large interiors for images of deity and for display of trophies (statues, weapons) brought back by conquering armies. This plan served as a temple type and is found in Italy and all around the empire.

Also called “tunnel vault” An extension of a simple arch with a semi- cylindrical ceiling over parallel walls. Windows can be placed at any point Barrel vaults require buttressing to counteract the downward thrust ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Groin Vault Also called a cross vault. Formed by the intersection of 2 barrel vaults at right angles Needs less buttressing, only where the groins meet the vertical supports

A series of groin vaults can have open lateral arches that form Clerestories windows that allow light into the interior of churches These concrete clerestory windows are fireproof, an important consideration as many churches frequently burned ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Dome- a round arch rotated around the full circumference of a circle The Romans were able to surpass ancient cultures in their ability to span space via hemispherical domes that rested on cyndrilical drums. Light enters through the oculus ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Pont du Gard, Nimes, France, early 1st century BCE Arch and vault became standard construction for engineering projects Used in aqueducts and sewers, designed for efficiency rather than beauty The repetition of Arches relays a sense of order and permanence

Colosseum, Rome, BCE. Enormous amphitheater for gladiatorial games, located in the center of Rome One of the largest single buildings in history Efficient – meant to serve large amount of human traffic (50,000 people) Utilized both the barrel vault and the groin vault (two barrel vaults at right angles) SmART History video - Colosseum

Fine balance between vertical and horizontal elements Engaged columns, series of arches Three classical orders are used: Doric is on the ground floor (weighty) Ionic – in the middle and Corinthian – “lightening” the proportions, but it is less noticeable The Roman Colosseum

A round style temple From the outside, the cella looks like a simple cylindrical drum The deep porch is common for Roman temples The entry is not as impressive today – the modern streets of Rome are a great deal higher than they were in ancient times. The steps leading up to the porch are now submerged in pavement. The interior is far more impressive f Pantheon, Rome, CE

Interior of the Pantheon, (painting by Pannini, ca.1740) The use of arches in buildings, led to huge, uninterrupted interior spaces (such as in baths, the centers of Roman society). The dome is a true hemisphere, and the oculus allows lots of light into the space. The coffers of the dome were originally gilt with gold. The Pantheon was dedicated to the seven known planets at the time

Plan and Section of the Pantheon Balance is a key principle in the design The base (or walls) had to be made much heavier than the top Weight rests on 8 wide pillars – this allows for niches around the side SmART History video – The Pantheon, Rome

Section views of the Pantheon, Rome

Detail of the Pantheon, Rome, CE.

Concrete Transforms a Hillside The Romans developed concrete construction causing a revolution in architectural design. The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina is an impressive example of concrete construction on a massive scale. Contrasting with the Greeks who would crown a hill with architecture, the Romans “converted the hill itself into architecture.” The subjugation of nature to man’s will

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, 1st century BCE East of Rome – a cult, dedicated to Fortuna (Fate) – a mother deity and oracle unearthed through bombings in 1944 ramps and terraces lead to a colonnaded court, flight of stairs like a Greek theater, arched openings framed by engaged columns and entablatures, presence of barrel vault All surfaces are concrete – fitting into the hillside, the architecture seems to grow from the rock. Comparable to the New Kingdom in Egypt (Temple of Hatshepsut, Akhenaton, and Ramses II). This monument’s style represents a transition from the Roman Republic to the imperial dictatorship that followed.

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, 1st century BCE “A grand complex, symbolic of Roman Power.” “The subjugation of nature to human will and rational order was the first full-blown manifestation of the Roman Imperial spirit.”

Model made of Legos… Project for Thanksgiving break?

Basilica of Constantine, Rome, CE

Reconstruction drawing of the Basilica of Constantine Largest roofed interior in all of Rome Basilicas with long halls served civic purposes, and were a standard feature of every Roman town. They often held the courts. Nave – the center tract Clerestory – the upper part of the nave, pierced with large windows to let in light The raised roof of the clerestory was possible because the groined vaults helped center the weight on the four corners.

POMPEII AND THE CITIES OF VESUVIUS Pompeii was destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. Pompeii was first settled by the Oscans and later by the Samnites. Sulla founded a new Roman colony on the site in 80 BCE. So much of the city has been preserved that it has been called a "living city of the dead."

Could seat twenty thousand spectators. Created via an artificial mountain with barrel vaults & concrete Arena comes from the latin word for the sand that coated the floor to soak up the blood from gladiatorial combats. Amphitheater

Brawl in the Pompeii amphitheater, wall painting from House I,3,23, Pompeii, Italy, ca. 60–79 CE. Approx. 5’ 7” x 6’ Museo Nazionale, Naples.

Aerial view of the amphitheater, Pompeii, Italy, ca. 70 BCE.

Atrium, House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii, 1 st century CE. Domestic Architecture: A single family house was called a Domus – made for wealthy Romans Each had an atrium – a square central hall lighted by an opening in the roof. Many examples found at Pompeii and Herculaneum (buried 79 CE.) The Silver Wedding atrium was flanked by Corinthian columns, and a basin to collect rain water in the center – the impluvium Atriums were used for keeping family portraits of family ancestors Further rooms were attached to the back of the house as well as clustered around the atrium Rooms were shut off from the street with windowless walls.

The Roman House A domus, or single-family house, had a plain exterior; the focus was on the interior spaces. The parts of the house are fauces (1), atrium, (2) impluvium,(3) cubicula, (4) tablinum, triclinium, and peristyle. ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license. Click to return to start

Insula of the House of Diana, Ostia, 150 CE Insula – a less elegant commoners home More urban – homes were in the upper floors Similar to an apartment house – made of concrete or brick Centered around a central court Shops and taverns were on the ground floor, above living quarters Not as private as a Domus – built for craftsmen and merchants

Market Gate from Miletus (restored) ca.160 CE Late Roman Architecture Up until the the end of the 1st century CE, Roman architecture stayed true to Greek orders and aesthetics. Afterward, architecture was more imaginative – especially in the African and Asiatic part of the empire. A continuous in and out rhythm of recesses and projections

Plan of the forum, Pompeii, Italy, second century BCE. and later. The typical Roman town was planned originally with a centrally located public square or civic center (forum) located at the intersection of the main north-south street, the cardo, and the main east-west street, the decumanus. The temple to Jupiter (2) was at the north end with the basilica or government building (3) to the west ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Sculpture Roman Republican sculpture is noted for its patrician portraits employing a verism derived from the patrician cult of ancestors and the practice of making likenesses of the deceased from wax death-masks. In the funerary relief, figures are shown bust-length (cut off at the base of the chest) in the Etruscan tradition.

Funerary relief with portraits of the Gessii ca. 30 BCE. Marble, approx. 2' 11/2 Most portraits are exclusively men of the patrician class. Portraits were not meant to make them appear more noble.

Head of a Roman patrician ca. 75–50 BCE. Marble, approx. 14" high Notice how age is painstakingly portrayed. A statement to the personality of the individual – serious, experienced, and determined SmART History video – Veristic Portrait

Portrait of a Roman general from the Sanctuary of Hercules, Tivoli, Italy, ca. 75–50 BCE. Marble, approx. 6' 2" high It was also the practice in sculpture during the Republican period to place portrait heads on youthful, heroic bodies. As with their temples, the Romans combined native and imported Greek elements into their own unique style. The aging head expresses Republican values, his cuirass(breast plate/uniform on the floor nextt to his legs) declares his military might, while his youthful Greek inspired body declares that he was a hero.