The document provides an overview of ancient Roman art and architecture from the Roman Republic period beginning in 509 BCE through the early 4th century CE. It describes the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire and autocratic rule. Key examples of art and architecture discussed include portraits, frescoes from Pompeii, and monumental structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Arch of Constantine that demonstrated Rome's engineering abilities and served as symbols of imperial power.

1. Art and Architecture of Ancient
Rome

2. What can you remember about
ancient Greek art and architecture?

3. Where is Rome?

4. This is where it used to be.

5. Rome the Republic
• Period of ancient Rome when it operated as a
Republic (the type of government we have in
the U.S.)
• This facet of Roman history began circa 509
BCE.
• Republic - Type of government where the
public governs.

6. • Verism- The preference of
the truthful representation
of an image over an
idealized version.
Head of a Roman patrician
ca. 75-50 B.C.E.
marble
approximately 1 ft. 2 in. high

7. • Portrait of a Roman General
• Tivoli, Italy
• ca. 75 - 50 B.C.E.
marble
6 ft. 2 in. high

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

9. Pompeii
• Pompeii was a city in
Rome which was
“destroyed” by the
volcano Mt.
Vesuvius.
• The destruction of
this city also
solidified it’s place in
history.
Pompeii forum, or city center

10. •
Dionysiac mystery frieze
•
Room 5, Pompeii, Italy
•
ca. 60-50 B.C.E.
fresco
frieze approximately 64 in. high

11. • Like the roman mixture for concrete, we also have not
yet found the recipe for Pompeiian red.

13. The Roman Empire
• Where the Roman Republic was a republic
government,
• The Roman Empire is an autocratic system of
government.
• Autocratic – System of government where one
person holds all political power.

14. Portrait of Augustus as general
from Primaporta, Italy
ca. 20 B.C.E.
marble
80 in. high

15. Head of Caesar Augustus
ca. 100 C.E.
marble with traces of polychrome

16. AraPacisAugustae
Rome, Italy
ca. 13-9 B.C.E.
marble
63 in. high

17. Pont-du-Gard
Nimes, France
ca. 16 B.C.E.

18. Pont-du-Gard
Nimes, France
ca. 16 B.C.E.

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

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

21. Arch of Titus
Rome, Italy
81 C.E.

22. Arches
• Arches have a long history beginning in the second century
BCE, and ending in the era of Christian Roman emperors.
• Early triumphal arches contained only one passage way.
• Squandrels (Area between framing and arch) contain reliefs.
• Usually contain inscription at top.
• Triumphal arches are dedicated to emperors who have been
deified. If an emperor goes against the senate he is not
deified, his statues are all destroyed, and he is erased from
public inscriptions. This is known as Damnatio Memoriae

23. Arch of Titus
• Dimensions: 15.4 meters high by 13.5 meters
wide.
• The inscription reads: The Roman Senate and
People to Deified Titus, Vespasian
Augustus, son of Deified Vespasian.
• The reliefs in the Arch of Titus represent the
triumphal parade of Titus after the conquest
of Judea at end of Jewish wars.

24. Titus Reliefs and Inscription
Relief: Spoils of Jerusalem
Inscription.
Relief: Triumph of Titus

25. Arch of Titus

26. Portrait bust of a Flavian woman
from Rome, Italy
ca. 90 C.E.
marble
25 in. high

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

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

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

30. Al-Khazneh
Petra, Jordan
2nd century C.E.

31. Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
from Rome, Italy
ca. 175 C.E.
bronze
11 ft. 6 in. high

32. Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
from Rome, Italy
ca. 175 C.E.
bronze
11 ft. 6 in. high

33. Portraits of the four tetrarchs
St. Mark’s, Venice
ca. 305 C.E.
porphyry
51 in. high

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

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

36. Basilica Nova reconstruction drawing
Rome, Italy
306-312 C.E.

37. Aula Palatina (Basilica)
Trier, Germany
early 4th century C.E.