Roman Art Overview

Key Characteristics

• Roman art is often associated with classic architecture, including:
  • Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns
  • White busts of notable figures
• Roman art extends beyond architecture to include:
  • Coinage
  • Sculpture
  • Metalwork
  • Glasswork
  • Jewelry

Historical Context

• Predominantly from 800 BC to 500 AD.
• Influential authors during this period:
  • Cicero
  • Virgil
  • Ovid
  • Horace
• Roman art was influenced by philosophical thought, poetic style, and mythology.

Influences on Roman Art

• Early Roman art (800 BC) drew from Etruscan art:
  • Etruscans focused on afterlife and funerary objects.
• Roman artists preferred realism in portraiture:
  • Unlike Greeks who idealized subjects, Romans depicted subjects realistically, flaws included.

Artistic Styles and Techniques

• Distinctive styles:
  • Realistic portraiture with some idealization for dignity.
  • Relief work flourished after Augustus's rise to power:
    • Used to promote Augustus’s divine right and power.
• Common reliefs depicted:
  • Interactions with gods
  • Scenes of victory

Architectural Innovations

• Concrete revolution in the first century AD allowed for:
  • Arches, domes, and vaulted ceilings.
• Notable architectural achievements:
  • The Pantheon:
    • Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD.
    • Features an impressive dome (142 ft diameter, 71 ft height) with an oculus.
  • The Colosseum:
    • Completed in 80 AD.
    • Accommodated ~50,000 people.
    • Showcases all three column styles.
    • Advanced features like trap doors and drainage.

Surviving Artworks

• Much early Roman art lost due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
• Surviving wall paintings from Pompeii:
  • Used colors: white, yellow, black, Pompeii red.
  • Themes: nature, mythology, status-enhancing scenes.
• 3rd century AD onwards:
  • Art began reflecting Christian themes.
  • Shifted to more stylized forms, paving the way for medieval art.

Decline and Legacy

• Decline of Roman art coincided with the fall of Rome's status as an empire hub.
• Emergence of Byzantine art with cathedrals and basilicas.
• Influence of Roman art revitalized during the Italian Renaissance 800 years later.