Roman Art and Culture

1. Roman Art and Culture • By the end of the 6th century B.C., Rome had become the largest and richest city in all of Italy • Many city-states developing over centuries just like in ancient Greece • Much of Roman art was influenced by or even copied from Greek art forms

2. Ancient Rome • Ancient Rome was a powerful and important civilization that ruled much of Europe for nearly 1000 years. • The culture of Ancient Rome was spread throughout Europe during its rule. As a result, Rome's culture still has an impact in the Western world today. • The basis for much of Western culture comes from Ancient Rome, especially in areas such as government, engineering, architecture, language, and literature. • Rome first grew into power as a Republic. • This meant that Rome's leaders, such as senators, were elected officials that served for a limited amount of time, not kings who were born into leadership and ruled for life. • complex government with written laws, a constitution, and a balance of powers. • These concepts became very important in forming future democratic governments, like the United States and Canada. • The Republic would rule Rome for hundreds of years from around 509 BC to 45 BC. • Rome turned into an Empire • In 45 BC Julius Caesar took over the Roman Republic and made himself the supreme dictator. This was the end of the republic. • A few years later, in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and this was the start of the Roman Empire.

3. Roman Sculpture and Painting • Greeks preferred idealistic portraits; Romans wanted theirs more realistic and lifelike • Greek art was more public, (monuments, temples, etc.) • Roman art was more private • dedicated to individuals • A reminder or celebration of people (deceased, e.g.) lifelike • A Roman portrait sculpture creates feeling that viewer is looking at real person VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM2D7iJHWXQ

4. Mural Painting • Wealthy Roman families lived in luxurious homes with courtyards, gardens with fountains, mosaics, busts, etc. • Did not hang paintings, hired artists to paint murals

5. Mosaics • Mosaic images made of small pieces of coloured glass or stone • Floors, but then walls and even ceilings decorated • Depicted legendary scenes from real and mythic stories

6. More Mosaics

7. Roman Architecture • Few Roman paintings and murals survive, but many examples of Roman architecture survive • Romans built many roads, harbours, cities, temples, monuments, aqueducts, etc.

8. Temples • Again, much Greek influence • Columns are often decorative and not structurally needed

9. Innovations in Structure and Materials • Barrel vault ~ A series of round arches from front to back that form a tunnel

10. Innovations cont… • Round Arch ~ A wall or another arch is needed to counter the outward force of the arch.

11. Innovations cont… • Keystone ~ the top stone of the arch holds other stones in place.

12. Aqueducts • Aqueducts demonstrate the Romans’ ability to combine engineering skills with a knowledge of architectural form. • Aqueduct: a system that carried water from mountain streams into cities by using gravitational flow

14. The Roman Baths • Roman monuments and public buildings were numerous and impressive • Most popular were the baths • Made possible by aqueducts • Much more than a pool: • Vast enclosed structures that contained libraries, lecture rooms, gyms, shops, restaurants, walkways and – of course - baths

15. Baths cont… • Every large Roman city had its bath • All contained a series of pools of progressively cooler water (furnace heat) • Start from hot (tepidarium) to cold (frigidarium) Bath of Caracalla Rome, Italy

16. Baths

17. Ampitheatres • Q. What for? A. panemet circensesor “bread and circuses” • Chariot races • Public executions• Gladiatorial fighting • Mock naval battles • These events were held in large arenas • Called ampitheatres (most famous: Colosseum) • Built approx. 60 A.D. • Covers 6 acres • Over centuries, looting destroyed much of the original

18. Colosseumcont… • 80 archways at ground level all around • 76 for public • One of the other four for emperor, one for priestesses, one for victorious gladiators (Door of Life), the last for dead gladiators (Door of Death)

19. What it probably looked like 1900 years ago What it looked like 300 years ago

20. Pantheon • One of the marvels of Roman architecture is the Pantheon • Temple dedicated to all Roman gods, later converted to a Christian church • Height and width of exactly 144’

22. Arches • Romans loved celebrations and often marked victories and successes with a monument • “Triumphal arches” • Heavily decorated arches • One of the largest and most famous: Arch of Constantine

23. Key Roman Cultural Characteristics • Admirers of Greek culture • Adopted many aspects of it, then made unique • Mythological stories, philosophy, etc. • Art (a little) more private, (a little) less public than that of Greece • Great engineers and innovators • Aqueducts, arches, ampitheatres, roads, baths, etc. • Art (a little) less idealized, (a little) more realistic than that of Greece