Roman Art and Architecture

Roman Art and Architecture

The exam for this topic • You will be given 3 photographs from the works studied, and a set of questions on each. • You must answer on 2 out of the 3 photos

Introduction • The unit will be broken up into the following subtopics: • Portraiture • Religious Architecture • Relief Sculptures • Functional • Mosaics

Introduction • ‘Art and Architecture’ is a description for the range of material culture that comes from ancient Rome. • This topic looks at the art and architecture produced in the Roman Empire from the reign of Augustus (30BC-AD14) to Constantine (AD 306-337)

Introduction • Roman Imperial sculpture, whether it was relief (sculptured into stone) * or portrait sculpture, was meant to be seen. It was not created for private enjoyment but instead put in a public place to commemorate and glorify and individual or dynasty (family rule). • It is a powerful source of political propaganda which generations of emperors often utilized. They modelled themselves in stone as victorious generals, the bringers of peace and prosperity, and later even in the image of gods. Statues and relief sculpture were also used to commemorate specific events and to remind the people of their Emperor’s military skills.

Portraiture – General background Etruscan: • The deceased ashes were put into clay urns, which often had human heads on the lid • 7th cent BC Carved full-length reclining figures of the dead on top of a coffin • 6th cent BC Images of the dead began to have specific individual features • 4th cent BC onwards: Statues and busts were realistic

Roman • It was custom to have wax masks of the dead to use in funeral procession. This commemorated the dead • Bronze or marble copies of the death mask was made to be displayed at home. (Only Patrician families could afford this images of their ancestors – this was called the ius imaginum) • The reproduced features of the deceased were in veristic style (a realistic depiction of an individual’s face, and showed the qualities of wisdom and experience, particularly on middle aged males, a ‘warts and all’ approach)* and showed the family likeness • The opposite style to verism, in portraiture was idealism (facial features are simplified, shows and idealised and glorified version, usually of the emperor.)*

Patrician Carrying Busts • Date: end of 1st cent BC or beginning 1st cent AD (M. Wheeler & R. Hannah) • Facts: (P. Artus book) • Other details: (J. Campbell) • Workbook: p.6-8

Roman Art and Architecture