Ancient Rome
ART
KEY IDEAS:
•ROMAN
ART SHOWS THE AMBITIONS OF A
POWERFUL EMPIRE
•ROMAN
ARCHITECTURE SHOWED
ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING IN
ENGINEERING THROUGH THE ARCH, THE
VAULT AND CONCRETE
•ROMANS
ADVANCED PAINTING
TECHNIQUES ROMAN SCULPTURE IS
GREATLY INDEBTED TO GREEK MODELS
Topic: Ancient Greco Roman Art

In 211 BCE the Romans conquered the Greek city
of Syracuse, Sicily and brought back works of
Greek civilization to the amazement of the
Romans.

After, Romans wanted all things Greek

Greece was completely conquered in 146 BCE,
most sculptures, pottery and other treasures were
removed and sent to Rome

The Romans copied, learned and exceeded their
influences..
Roman Republican Art - Busts
Head of a Roman Patrician
Upper Class Person (75-80
BCE)




3
(plebian – lower class)
Bust from shoulders and
head.
Romans felt the head was a
good enough
representation of a person
Expression: sincere,
unwavering, resolute
Knowledgeable, respected
.
Roman Republican Art:
•
4
A Roman Patrician
with Busts of His
Ancestors, Late 1st
Century B.C.E.
Marble, life-size,
Museo Capitolino,
Rome
Roman Republic vs. Roman Early
Imperial Art
Head of a Roman Patrician 75-80 BCE) Augustus of Primaporta, 20 BCE
Roman Early Imperial Art
Augustus of
Primaporta,
1st. C. BCE
 Idealization
of human
form.
Force and
power
 Suggests a
god/goddess
6
.
Roman Early Imperial (dictator)
Art
Ara Pacis, 1st C. BCE

Altar of Peace – celebrates
Augustus’s biggest achievement,
est. peace

Altar connected w/Augustus’
homecoming after a long
absence

Altar reconstructed in Italy during
Mussolini’s reign on the 2,000th
birthday of Augustus

Mussolini wanted a Modern
Roman Empire
.
Roman Early Imperial Art
Ara Pacis and Procession of the Imperial Family, 1st
C. BCE
Relief or Frieze Sculpture found on walls, columns,
and architecture
8

Mosaic –
decoration using
small pieces of
colored stones on
a 2D surface

Goal: realism
perfection, movement,
emotion and light

Technique: Linear
Perspective - the
technique presenting
three dimensional
images on a 2D
surface

Subject Matter: wealth,
pleasure/Gods, power
Roman Architecture
11
Pantheon, Rome, 2nd century CE

Built under Emperor
Hadrian’s rule

Considered a perfect
Buildings Symmetry

Dedicated to all the gods
(pan – all, theo – god)

Façade




Inscription references 1st
architect Marcus Agrippa, son
of Lucius, built it (started)
8 Corinthian columns, 8 behind
in porch
Ancient metal roof almost
gone
Exterior does not give away
the grand interior
• Interior
- 2 perfect intersecting circles (142 ft in
diameter)
- Interior height equals width
- Symbolized an orb of the earth Hemispherical dome
- Oculus, 30 ft opening
- 7 Niches for statues of 7 planetary gods
• Oculus allows light and air in
Roman Architecture
Pantheon, Rome, 2nd Century CE
12
(continued)

Original dome decorated with
stucco and painting

Original marble walls survive

Floor has drainage system
•
Symbolism

Interior circle orb of the earth

Dome the vault as the heavens

Light from oculus symbolizes
sun’s movement through the
sky
Essential Question: What ways have the Romans advanced architecture?
Compare and Contrast
the High Relief Sculptures
Pedestal of a Column, 2nd
century CE, (161 CE)
Contrast of the classical and
the non-classical style
Roman High Imperial Art
14
Column of Trajan, 2nd c. CE, 112 CE
Thumbnails of Columns Scenes
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/trajanscolumn.htm
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/imperialfora/trajan/column.html

128ft Tall

Stood in Trajan’s Forum, surrounded
by buildings so that the reliefs could
be read

Ashes of Trajan placed at base

Statue was once Trajan now it’s St.
Peter

Originally painted

Continuous narrative around
column

Low relief, little shadows to enhance
visibility

2,500 figures in all, 150 separate
episodes

Trajan’s accomplishments in War

Column meant to be entered – a
spiral staircase to the viewing
platform at the top of the heroic
statue