9
ITALY BEFORE THE ROMANS
THE ART OF THE ETRUSCANS
TEXT PAGES 232-245
EARLY ETRUSCAN ART
Define or identify the following terms:
acroterion.
Fibula
Granulation.
Necropolis “
Tumulus
1. Name four important Etruscan settlements.
a.)
b.)
c.
d.
2. List four architectural characteristics of Etruscan temples that distinguish them
from Greek temples.
Etruscan temple
Greek temple
a.
a.
b.
b.
c.
c.
d.
.
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d.,
3. List three stylistic characteristics of the Apula (Apollo) from Veii (FIG. 9-3) that
distinguish it as Etruscan.
a.
b..
c..
Where was it originally placed?
.
4. What were the favorite materials of Etruscan sculptors?
LATER ETRUSCAN ART
Define or identify the following terms and understand what they mean for
understanding Etruscan art:
arcuated gateway.
Chimera.
Cista
Voussoir
1. Why is the Etruscan Capitoline Wolf (FIG. 9-10) so famous?
2. Describe the medium and technique used for decorating The Ficoroni Cist (FIG.
9-12).
3. In what way is the sarcophagus of Lars Pulena (FIG. 9-14) different from that
of the reclining couple shown in FIG 9-4?
How might the subject on the reliefs relate to the political situation of the
Etruscans in the 2nd c BCE?
4. List two features of the magnificent bronze figure of Aule Matele (FIG. 9-15)
that show the influence of the Romans.
a.
b.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Compare the Apulu (Apollo) from Veii (FIG. 9-3) with the Riace Warrior
(FIG. 5-34). Explain how the typical Etruscan features of the former
contrast with the typical Greek features of the latter.
2. How do the style, color, subject matter, and mood of an Etruscan fresco
(FIG. 9-8) compare with those of a contemporary Greek vase painting
(FIG. 5-56)?
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3. In what way was the Etruscan rise and fall from power reflected in the
decoration of their tombs? To what degree was it reflected in their bronze
work?
4. Compare the Etruscan sarcophagus with the reclining couple on FIG. 9-4
and the fresco on FIG. 9-8 with the Egyptian funerary monument from
Gizeh shown on 3-13 and the Greek funerary stele on 5-55. What do these
monuments say about relationships between people in these societies as
well as about their ideas toward death?
5. Do you think that Etruscan landscape paintings like the one on FIG. 9-9
are closer to Egyptian or Minoan paintings? Why?
6. What do art images tell us about the relative positions of Greek and
Etruscan women? Select two examples from each culture to illustrate your
argument.
LOOKING CAREFULLY AND ANALYZING
Describe the function of a fibula and then compare the Etruscan fibula on
FIG. 9-1 with the Frankish fibula on FIG. 16-1. Even though you most likely
will not have studied the Frankish fibula yet, it is interesting to compare the
development of a certain item.
Look very carefully at the two fibula and describe what you see. How do
their shapes differ and how do the shapes relate to their function? What size
are they? What materials and what techniques are used for each? Carefully
describe the decorative forms and patterns used on each piece. How do they
differ? How do the decorative forms relate to the underlying shapes? Try to
imagine a fibula of each size on your shoulder and imagine in what
circumstances they might have been worn. Which one do you prefer? Why?
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