Roman Art

1. Ancient Roman Art

3. Timeline
• Regal Rome
– Senate
– Inclusive, Multiethnic
• Res Publica (Repubican Rome)
– Plebians (poor) / Patricians (land owners)
– Governed by elected Magistrates (2 consuls) and Senate
– Military conquest (greatest power in Mediterranean)
– Assimilated conquered civilizations and gave rights of
citizenship
– Ended with Octavian ruling, but was a defacto oligarchy by
that time.

4. Timeline (cont.)
• Imperial Rome
– “Rule of First Citizen”
– Octavian (Augustus) is named ruler by the Senate
– Senate becomes less powerful
– Several “good” emperors, chosen based on ability
– Attacks from the outside (expansion)
– Eventually split into East and West Empire
• Western Empire weakeened by barbarian invaders
• Eastern Empire eventually overtaken by Ottomans

5. Rome and Greece
• Nearby Geographically
• Brought some objects back in battle and had
other communication
• Rome assimilated many Greek artistic and
building practices
• Adopted the state religion (modified names)
• Rome conquered Corinth in 146 BCE

6. Romans as Innovators
• Created own langugage (Latin)
• Developed more practical architecture than
Greeks
– Use of concrete, creation of aquaducts, arches,
domes
• Nurtured Greek humanist naturalism into
“astounding feats of realism”
• Art in the service of politics

7. Realism and Portraiture
• “Verism” = “truth”
• Sculpture shoud tell us
something about the
person
– Possibly beyond what
they just look like
– Romans also worshipped
their ancestors which
led to their love of
portraiture

8. Head of a Roman Patrician
• Example of Rebulican
Roman art
• Exemplified the
values of the republi
• Balding heads, large
noses, extra wrinkles
• Personifies the
“model citizen”

9. Aulus Metteus
100 BCE
(Republican Rome)

10. Augustus of
Primaporta
(Imperial
Rome)

11. Equestrian
Sculpture of
Marcus Aurelius
(Imperial Rome)

12. Roman Architecture
• Monumental size ALSO on inside
• Introduction of Concrete, arching and vaulting
• Civic/Public Projects to gain favor during the
Republican period
– Aqueduct
– Began widespread use of simple arch
• Brought water to the cities, increased sanitation
– Also built roads and bridges

13. Pont du Gard (Imperial Rome)

14. Roman Forum
• Open Plaza surrounded by important bulidings
• Civic, religious, and economic heart of the city
– Market, law court, temple, meeting space for the
Senate (Curia), monuments to great leaders, etc.
• Central to the identity and function of the
Republic/Empire
– Diverse community came together
• Not built all at once, developed over time

16. The Role of Concrete
• Didn’t need specialized workers
– Could build quickly
• Less expensive
– Then faced with decoration
• Lighter
– Could create massive interior space
• City Planning
– Example: didn’t need a slope to create an
amphitheater

17. Colosseum (Imperial Rome)

18. Pantheon (Imperial Rome)

19. Pantheon (Arial)

20. Pantheon (Interior)