The Art of Ancient Rome
Roman Republic of Italy formed in 509 BCE Romans expanded through continuous warfare / Powerful government
Romans inspired by the Greeks (Gods, Greek art, etc.) Ex. Goddess of Love Greek – Aphrodite Roman – Venus
Roman government undertook big building projects to make city life more comfortable and attractive (roads, bridges, stadiums, theaters, etc.)
Augustus of Primaporta Sculpture (Marble) 1 st Century CE 2 m Tall
Augustus of Primaporta Portrait sculpture of Emporer Augustus Augustus leads the way Combines Greek idealism and Roman individualism Propaganda for the Empirical Roman Government Cupid at the base of the sculpture
Antinous Sculpture (Marble) 130 – 38 CE 2.41 m tall
Antinous Emperor Hadrian’s lover who died in the Nile River Realistic portrait of Antinous Combination of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian Styles
Comparison Greek SculptureRoman Sculpture
She-Wolf Sculpture (Bronze) 500 BCE 85 cm
She-Wolf Story of Twin Brothers Romulus and Remus, who founded city of Rome She-Wolf made in 500 BCE, but Romulus and Remus added later in 1400’s
Bedroom, House of Publius Fannius Synistor Architecture (Interior) 1 st Century CE
Cityscape Painting (Wall Painting) 1 st Century CE
Cityscape – image of buildings Wall Painting from a House near Pompeii, Italy Intuitive Perspective – buildings shown in smaller size in the background to show space / different angles of building Painted Corinthian Column Cityscape
An art technique for creating an illusion of three- dimensions (depth and space) on a two-dimensional (flat) surface. What makes a painting seem to have form, distance, and look "real". All subjects, whether it's a landscape, seascape, still life, interior scene, portrait, or figure painting.
Wall Mural, Pompeii Wall Mural, Egypt
Why is the art in Pompeii so well preserved? 79 A.D. – Mount Vesuvius erupted – buried city in ash. 2,000 people died and city abandoned. City was abandoned for almost 1,700 years. Explorers found it in 1748… city was almost exactly as it was left.
Colosseum Architecture 70 – 80 CE
Colosseum Name Colosseum derived from a statue called the Colossus, which stood next to the building Giant Entertainment Center (athletic events, Greek plays, gladiator and animal fights) Could seat up to 70,000 people Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Columns Giant cloth roof which protected people from the sun
Foundation of Rome’s architecture and massive building projects. They could build: Bigger Buildings Longer Roads Better Aqueducts