Roman Art
700BCE-395CE
She-Wolf
Example of Aqueduct
Map of Roman Republic and Empire
Etruscan Art (forerunner to Roman)
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Starting 750 BCE Etruscans controlled
northern and central Italy (Etruria)
They were sailors, merchants, farmers, and
metalworkers.
Admired Greek and neighboring arts but
did not copy, therefore, established a
distinctive Etruscan style of art
Etruscan Art
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Temples
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Sculpture:
Terra-cotta figures: Apollo
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Tombs/Paintings
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Bronze Work
Background of Rome
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Roman Republic 509 BCE - 27 BCE (formed when
expelled the Etruscan kings)
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Roman Empire 27 BCE - 395 CE
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Government led by few (450 years)
Government led by an emperor (422 years)
Saw themselves as heroic conquers as they took over
the entire Italian peninsula and eventually surrounding
areas.
Religion was a mixture of Roman gods, Greek gods,
living rulers, and conquered rulers. Government tried to
control. By the end of Roman Empire the religion was
officially Christianity
Pompeii
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The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum
were buried by the horrendous eruption of
Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE
Many paintings and art were destroyed
Many sculptures of bronze, stone, and
marble as well as buildings were eventually
recovered
Body cast have been made of victims
buried in the volcanic ash.
Characteristics of Roman Art
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Art style was built on a foundation of Greek
with elements of Etruscans, Egyptians, and
Persians
Known for their architecture and
engineering rather than art such as
painting, pottery, and sculpture.
Strong desire for realism
Roman Art
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Sculpture
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Realistic – showing appearance of everyday
world
Portraiture of both publicly known and
private individuals
Augustus of Primaporta Young Flavian
Woman
Constantine the Great
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Contributed to Roman imperial propaganda
Equestrian statue of
Marcus Aurelius
Arch of Titus
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Paintings
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Wall Paintings-empty walls in houses were
painted with various scenes and architecture.
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Landscapes
 Linear Perspective
 Atmospheric perspective
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Still Life
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Portraits
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Very popular both for royality and nonroyality
Young Woman Writing
Septimius Severus, Julia
Domna, and their Children
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Architecture – Romans are know for inventive techniques in
architecture and engineering. In addition to architecture, systems of
law and governmental structures, are some of Rome’s most
important contributions to western civilization.
Types of Architecture
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Forums and basilicas
Circuses
Theaters
Public baths
Roads
Bridges
Aqueducts
Residences (Apartments and Villas)
Temples
Colosseums
Examples of Rome’s architecture and
engineering
Colosseum
Dome of the Pantheon
(colosseum)
(temple)
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Roman Circus Maximus
Circus
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Roman Forum
Forum
Architecture and Engineering cont.
Pont du Gard
(aqueduct and bridge)
Roman Theater
(Theater)
Roman Architecture and Engineering cont
Apartment Block
(housing for middle class)
House of the Vettii
(Upper class Villa)
Romans invented 3 important
Architectural forms
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Dome
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Arch
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Vault
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Mosaics
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Very popular for wealthy
Romans to decorate
homes
Tesserae: colored stone
or marble
So detailed they looked
like paintings
Detail from Roman Mosaic
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Monument sculpture
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Some were in the form of a triumphal arch –
part architecture, part sculpture. Officials
commissioned them to celebrate a victory and
parade troops, captives, and plunder through.
Recorded Historical events through words and
relief sculpture
Served as political propaganda
Examples of Monumental Sculpture
Arch of Titus
Column of Trajan
A change in Roman art style…
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During the reign of Diocletian (284-305CE)
art took on a new appearance. Though still
depicting real events, it appeared simplified
and abstracted.