Art of Republican and Imperial Rome

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Art of Republican and Imperial Rome
Honors Humanities
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Overview
Roman art is closely influenced by Greek art and
both sculpted mostly in marble. Romans, however,
did develop their own style and thematic
emphasis. Greek artists are famous for their
idealistic portrayals of the youthful person.
Ancient Greek themes dealt much with gods and
heroes.   The Romans are known for their
realism.  Most sculptures are of the rich, famous
and powerful people of Rome, and Roman portraits
show every blemish and wart.  Roman artists
desired to recreate what the person looked like
in real life, instead of relying on an idealized
vision. Also to a degree, Roman themes are more
varied.
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Changing tastes in sculpture
Early Roman Style Emphasized gravitas (seriousness
) and dignitas (dignity) Influenced by the
imagines (death masks of higher
magistrates) e.g., Head of Brutus Late
Republican Style Broke with dignified idealism of
the Roman Early Phase Verism, taste for
realism Almost brutal realism - flaws,
blemishes, scars, and baldness! Sense of unease
typifies the unsettled times of the Late
Republic Increasing eastern (i.e., Hellenistic)
influences
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Togate Roman v. Hellenistic Nude
Right Roman general depicted as a
Hellenistic king, c. 150 BCE Left Honorific
statue of a municipal aristocrat, c. 80 BCE
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Realistic individualized portraiture
Left to right Now-anonymous man from Sardinia
M. Licinius Crassus G. Iulius Caesar
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Grand Pretensions Pompeys Imitation of
Alexander the Great
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Sarcophagus with battle scene between Romans and
Germans. Marble, 180190 CE.
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Marcus Tullius Cicero 106-43 BCE
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Roman Patrician Holding Busts of Ancestors c.10
BCE
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Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE)
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Marcus Aurelius Gilded Bronze Equestrian
Statue, Capitoline Hill, c.161-180 CE
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Column of Marcus Aurelius
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Trajans Column - Rome
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Roman Wall Painting
Second Style Roman wall painting the
"architectural style (below) space extends
beyond the room with various perspective
("illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat
two-imensional surface) devices.  Roman artists
came close to developing a true linear
perspective.
First Style Roman wall painting"Incrustation"
(above), is thought to imitate Greek painting,
creating flat areas of color and 'faux" finishes
(like a fake marble or oak finish).
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Roman Wall Painting
Second Pompeian Style frescoes (left to right)
House of Griffins, Rome 100-500 BCE
Villa of Opolontis, 1st cent BCE architectural
fantasy, Villa at Boscoreale, near Pompeii, mid
1st cent. BCE
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Roman Wall Painting
In the Third Style Roman Wall Painting, called
the "Ornate Style," pictorial illusion is
confined to "framed" images, where even the
"framing" is painted on.  The overall appearance
is flat rather than a 3-d illusion of
space. Third Style from the Villa at
Boscotrecase, near Pompeii. 1st Century.
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Roman Wall Painting
The Fourth Style is also characterized by the
open vistas and the use of aerial perspective, as
well as the elaborate architectural framing.
Ixion Room from the House of the Vetii,
Pompeii, 1st Century.