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Where in the World Are We? Where in the World Are We? Etruscan Art The Forefathers of the Romans Etruscans Who? Primary Italian society prior to the Roman empire Same as Archaic period in Greece Much of their culture was adopted by Rome Most information comes from their tombs
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Etruscans Who? • Primary Italian society prior to the Roman empire • Same as Archaic period in Greece • Much of their culture was adopted by Rome • Most information comes from their tombs • Preoccupied with death and superstition • Rather bloodthirsty • Invented gladiators Sacrifice of the Trojan Captives 4th Century BC (300’s)
Early Funerary Customs • Cremated and buried their dead • Created clay urns that would symbolize the dead person and keep their spirit from haunting the living Burial Urn - 675-650 BC
Sarcophagi (Coffins) Coffins became more and more elaborate over time Terracotta (clay) Sarcophagus - 520 BC
Tomb Decoration • To get the spirit to remain in the tomb, they would make them look as much like a home as possible Burial Chamber 3rd Century BC
Tomb Fresco • Scenes depicting everyday Etruscan life • Dances, festivals, executions, etc. Ritual Dance “Tomb of the Lionesses” 480-470 BC
Later Tombs • Death become much less “fun” around the 4th Century BC (300’s) • The smiles are gone, replaced by demon figures, scary monsters • Still TERRACOTTA Sarcophagus - early 300’s BC
Temple Architecture • Built mostly of clay and wood - stone foundation is all that remains • Cross between a Greek temple and an Etruscan house Reconstruction of 2nd C. BC Etruscan Temple
Temple Architecture • Built mostly of clay and wood - stone foundation is all that remains • Cross between a Greek temple and an Etruscan house Reconstruction of 2nd C. BC Etruscan Temple
Architectural Sculpture • Life-size • Terracotta • Note archaic Greek and Mesopotamian influences Artist: Vulcan Apollo - 510 BC
Bronze Portrait Sculpture • Romans gradually took over in the 5th and 4th centuries BC • Etruscan minority still produced artwork • Note toga and imperial gesture Portrait of Aulus Metellus 80BC
Etruscan Summary • Most information/art comes from tombs • Masters of clay and bronze • Very superstitious and bloodthirsty • Combined Greek and Near Eastern styles • Aesthetic, cultural, and engineering ancestors of the Romans
The Roman “Melting Pot” • Like the USA, the Romans “assimilated” many different kinds of people • Each nation would bring its own artistic styles • The influences most obvious in Roman art were: • Greece • Etruria (the Etruscans) • Egypt • The Near East (Mesopotamia)
Greeks Romans Aesthetics - Greek and Roman
Aesthetics - Greek and Roman • Greeks • Search for ideal beauty • Romans • Emphasis on practicality - a good copy was just as good
Aesthetics - Greek and Roman • Greeks • Search for ideal beauty • Pathos • Romans • Emphasis on practicality - a good copy was just as good • Entertainment
Aesthetics - Greek and Roman • Greeks • Search for ideal beauty • Pathos • Depicted themselves as they wanted to be • Romans • Emphasis on practicality - a good copy was just as good • Entertainment • Emphasized true realism
Really, Really BIG Buildings Due to the development of • Concrete (with brick or marble facade) • The true arch • The barrel vault The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia – 90’s B.C.
The Bath House Bath house floor mosaic Ostia The Basilica of Constantine, Rome 310-320 A.D.
Amazing Public Works • Bridges • Roads • Aqueducts Pont du Gard, Nimes France
The Colosseum • Seating for 50,000! • Gladiators, executions, mock battles • Timber flooring with elevators, cages drainage, etc. underneath • Giant awning for shade • Nautical (sea) battles Constr. 72-80 A.D.
The Pantheon • Originally a temple to the 7 planetary gods (“pantheism”) • Now a museum • Intended to be perfectly balanced • Based on the circle and square (domed) 118-125 AD
The Triumphal Arch The Arch of Constantine – 310-320 A.D.
Commemorative Columns The ultimate gravestone Low-relief carvings commemorate specific events The Column of Trajan – 106-113 A.D. - Def. of “Romanians” 125 ft. tall - 625 ft. of carvings
Roman Sculpture Two main categories: • Imperial • Designed to make the ruler into something superhuman/godlike • Idealized • Simple portraiture • True realism - tried to capture the sitters real appearance Augustus of Primaporta – 20 BC
Note: - contraposto Augustus of Primaporta
Note: - contraposto - imperial gesture Augustus of Primaporta
Head of Constantine Octavius depicted as Mercury
Portrait Sculpture • Very popular for anyone with the money to pay • Literally “mapped” the face of the sitter Emperor Philippus (the Arab) 244-249 AD Emperor Vespasian - 75AD
Ancestor Portraits • Like a three-dimensional family album Portrait head examples - Vatican Museum Patrician with busts of his ancestors - 30BC
Roman Mosaic • Mosaic - image created using small pieces of colored marble inlaid into the plaster surface The Battle of Issus - copy of Greek painting - 9’x17’ (Alexander the Great defeating the Persians) Awesome COMPOSITION*
Composition • The purposeful arrangement of shapes • To direct the attention of the viewer • To add direction/drama • To reinforce an idea
Floor plan of typical Roman house Domestic Painting (Fresco) To decorate, entertain, or make the house appear bigger House in Herculaneum - 79 AD
Phony “Gardens” 20 BC
Mythological Scenes, Phony Cupboards or Textures Still Life - 50 AD Venus and Amor
Ritual Scenes “Roman TV” Scenes from the Villa of Mysteries - Pompeii Illustrations of cult rituals
Pompeii and Herculaneum 79 AD
Late Roman Painting • “Egypto-Roman” portrait painting • Utilized Encaustic • Pigment suspended in hot WAX • Painted on wood panel
“Classical” Art • Term used to describe art and architecture that uses elements originating with the Greeks and Romans
“Classical” Art • Term used to describe art and architecture that uses elements originating with the Greeks and Romans • Sculpture • Togas, drapery • Pathos • Idealized human forms
“Classical” Art • Term used to describe art and architecture that uses elements originating with the Greeks and Romans • Sculpture • Togas, drapery • Pathos • Idealized human forms • Architecture • Fluted columns • Arches • Post & lintel