THE ROMAN EMPIRE
TEXT PAGES 88-121
ETRUSCAN ART
1. List four architectural characteristics of Etruscan temples that distinguish them from Greek temples. (pages 89-90)
Etruscan templeGreek temple
a. Made of sun-dried brick and wooda. Made of stone
b. Stairs only at front, main side to buildingb. Front and rear of temple equal
c. Columns only in deep front porchc. Colonnade surrounds temple
d. Terracotta statuary on the rooflined. Stone statuary in pediments/friezes
2. List three stylistic characteristics of the Apulu (Apollo) from Veii (FIG. 3-2) that distinguish it as Etruscan. (page 90)
a. Figure is animated and face shows emotion
b. Figure is in motion, with arms gesturing
c. Figure is clothed; drapery consists of stylized patterns
Where was it originally placed? On the roof of a temple (page 90)
3. What were the favorite materials of Etruscan sculptors? Terracotta (clay) (page 90)
4. Why is the Etruscan Capitoline Wolf (FIG. 3-6) so famous?
The Capitoline Wolf is famous because it represents the mythology surrounding the founding of Rome. It also is known for its compelling and intense portrayal of an animal. (page 91)
5. List two features of the magnificent bronze figure of Aule Matele (FIG. 3-7) that show the influence of the Romans.
a. Aule Matele wears a Roman toga and boots (page 93)
b. Aule Matele’s face is veristic and follows Roman conventions of portraiture (pages 94-96)
ROMAN ART
THE REPUBLIC
1. Which cultures’ art most strongly influenced that of Rome?
Greek and Etruscan (page 94)
2.What two features of the Temple of “Fortuna Virilis” (FIG. 3-9) were drawn from Etruscan temples? (page 94)
a. Front entrance only; plan consists of a high podium with steps only at the front.
b. Plan includes a deep porch; free-standing columns only located in porch
From Greek temples?
a. Structure built of stone
b. Use of Ionic columns
What element is distinctly Roman? The temple is a pseudoperipteral temple with engaged columns around the cella’s sides and back. This is a uniquely Roman design that combines the basic Etruscan plan with the Greek peripteral temple. (page 94)
3.What was the major function of Roman Republican portrait sculpture?Roman Republican portrait sculpture documented a family’s lineage and ancestry. These portraits were kept in the home and publicly displayed at funerals. (pages 94-95)
What stylistic features differentiate Roman Republican portraits from Greek examples? Roman Republican portraits were veristic and rendered the likeness of the individuals portrayed, whereas Greek portraits were idealized. (page 96)
POMPEII AND THE CITIES OF VESUVIUS
1. What catastrophic event has enabled modern scholars to learn so much about life in a Roman town? The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE covered the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash and preserved them. (page 96)
2.Define or identify the following terms:
amphitheater Roman theatre with an elliptical plan, composed of two joined Greek theatres (page 98)
barrel vault A vault that consists of an arch extended in space (page 97)
cross vault (groin vault) A vault formed by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults (page 97)
forum A public square, the center of civic life in Roman towns (page 96)
3.Briefly describe the following painting styles found in Pompeii and its vicinity and/or in Rome:
First Style- Imitates marble panels with painted stucco reliefs (page 98)
Second Style- Paintings composed of illusionistic three-dimensional scenes meant to negate the presence of the walls (pages 99-100)
Third Style- Paintings with monochromatic backgrounds and decorative fantasy images with linear designs, meant to reinforce the presence of the walls (page 102)
Fourth Style- Mix of First and Third Style; comprised of crowded compositions of framed paintings and architectural vistas (page 102)
4. List three pictorial devices used by Roman painters to suggest depth.
a. single-point linear perspective (page 100)
b. atmospheric perspective (page 101)
c. use of shadows and highlights (page 103)
5. Note the function of each room of a Roman villa: (page 99)
atrium- large central reception area in a Roman villa
impluvium- basin in the atrium of a Roman villa used to catch rainwater
cubiculum- small bedrooms located around the atrium
tablinum- the home office in the back of a Roman villa
triclinium- the dining room in a Roman villa
peristyle- a colonnaded garden located at the rear of a Roman villa
Design a Roman house that incorporates at least five of the features listed above.
Draw the plan and label the rooms. Use a larger paper if you like.
Where do you think the kitchen and the sanitary facilities would be found?
They likely were located in the back of the villa or to the sides of the atrium, in removed locations. (page 99)
What type of decorations would you use in the various rooms of the house you are designing? Select from the styles illustrated above. Answers may vary; possibilities include: First Style, Second Style, Third Style, Fourth Style (pages 98-102)
What features of the house would you like to have in a contemporary dwelling?
(Answers may vary and depend on students’ opinions)
THE EARLY EMPIRE
1. What stylistic sources inspired the Augustus of Primaporta (FIG. 3-21)?
The Augustus of Primaporta is based on Classical Greek sculpture, namely Polykleitos’ Doryphoros (see FIG. 2-31) in terms of its shape. Augustus’ raised arm is attributed to Etruscan sculpture, specifically the Orator (see FIG 3-7). (page 104)
What was the political message of the figure?The August of Primaporta make reference to Augustus’ divine heritage (the Cupid at his feet) and military prowess (his shield commemorates victory over the Parthians), thereby demonstrating his right to rule. (page 104)
2. What was the purpose of the Ara Pacis Augustae (FIG. 3-22), and how did the iconography reflect that purpose? The Ara Pacis Augustae commemorates the establishment of peace throughout the Roman Empire. The vegetal and floral motifs refer to the prosperity that peace brings. (page 105)
3. What was the purpose of the Pont-du-Gard? The Pont-du-Gard served as a bridge and aqueduct, bringing water to the Roman city of Nîmes. (page 106)
What engineering principles was it based upon?
The Pont-du-Gard’s design is based on gravity flow; water flows toward Nîmes because the aqueduct is sloped downward from the water source. (page 106)
4. What name is commonly used for the Flavian Amphitheater? Colosseum (page 107)
How many people could it hold? 50,000 people (page 107)
What material was vital for its construction? concrete (page 107)
5. How did Flavian portraits differ from those done during the Republican period?
Artists used drills in addition to the hammer and chisel to create Flavian portraits. The figures are more idealized than portraits of the Republican period. (page 108)
6. The subjects depicted in the reliefs on the Arch of Titus were: (page 108-109)
a. Roman army carrying the spoils of war from the Temple of Jerusalem
b. Titus entering Rome triumphantly in his chariot
What was their political significance?Aside from commemorating Titus’ military victories, the Arch of Titus celebrates Roman imperial values. (page 109)
THE HIGH EMPIRE
1. What major complex did Trajan build in Rome? Forum of Trajan (page 110)
Who was its architect? Apollodorus of Damascus (page 110)
What was portrayed on the Column of Trajan? The Column of Trajan commemorates and retells Trajan’s successful military campaigns against the Dacians. (page 110)
Describe the technique used to create the frieze:To make the narrative clear and visible, the relief was originally painted and used easily recognizable compositions and low relief. (page 110)
2.What revolutionary architectural concept finds its fullest expression in the Roman Pantheon (FIGS. 3-34 & 3-35)?
The full potential of concrete is revealed and utilized in the Roman Pantheon. The dome is made of gradually lighter types of concrete toward the oculus at the top, allowing the enclosure of open, uninterrupted space. (pages 112-113)
3. Name the emperor who was portrayed on horseback: Marcus Aurelius (page 113)
What are such portraits called? Equestrian statues/portraits (page 113)
4. What is encaustic painting? Encaustic is made of hot wax mixed with pigments and is used to paint surfaces. (page 113)
How did the Roman emperors use encaustic painting?Applied to marble statuary, encaustic would have colored the portraits of Roman emperors. (page 113)
THE LATE EMPIRE
1. Define or identify the following terms:
caldarium- Hot-water bath in a Roman bathing complex (page 114)
frigidarium- Cold-water bath in a Roman bathing complex (page 114)
tempera- painting medium made of pigments and egg yolk, glue, or casein (page 551)
tepidarium- Warm-water bath in a Roman bathing complex. (page 114)
2. What functions, other than sanitary, did Roman baths fulfill? They fulfilled a number of recreational purposes. Roman bathing complexes included facilities such as libraries, gardens, lecture halls, exercise areas, and swimming pools. (page 115)
What type of vaults were used for the frigidarium of the Baths of Caracalla (FIG. 3-38)? Groin vaults (cross vaults) (pages 114-115)
3. How does the portrait of Trajan Decius (FIG. 3-40) reflect the art of the so-called “soldier emperors”? Trajan Decius is depicted as an old man with a worried and anxious expression. His brow is furrowed and his eyes are filled with concern. Portraits of the “soldier emperors” were both veristic and emotional. (pages 115-116)
5. List three stylistic characteristics of the 4th-century portraits of the tetrarchs (FIG. 3-42). (pages 116-117)
a. Extreme rigidity, details are described by schematics
b. Human form represented in iconic terms, not naturally
c. Figures are emotionless and no longer represented as individuals
5. What type of architectural elements was used to construct Constantine’s Basilica Nova (FIG. 3-41)? Constantine’s Basilica Nova was built with barrel vaults over the aisles and fenestrated groin vaults over the nave, which allowed light to enter the building. (pages 118-119)
6. What reasons can be given for Constantine’s reuse of 2nd-century sculpture on his triumphal arch? Constantine wanted to be associated with the famous emperors of the 2nd century. (page 119)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Compare the Apulu (Apollo) from Veii (FIG. 3-2) with the Riace Warrior (FIG. 229). 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. 3-5) compare with those of a contemporary Greek vase painting (FIG. 2-43)?
3. Compare the Etruscan sarcophagus with the reclining couple on FIG. 3-3 and the fresco on FIG. 3-5 with the Greek funerary stele on FIG. 2-42. What do these monuments say about relationships between people in these societies and about their ideas toward death? What do art images tell us about the relative positions of Greek and Etruscan women?
4. Discuss the influence of both Greek and Etruscan architecture on Roman temple design.
5. Select an example of Roman painting representing each of the Pompeian styles (First, Second, Third, and Fourth), and explain the characteristics of each. Note the devices used to create the illusion of space.
6. Name two works commissioned by Augustus and describe their political significance.
7. How were both realistic and idealistic characteristics incorporated into the Ara Pacis Augustae? In what respects did the reliefs from the Ara Pacis Augustae (FIG. 3-23) resemble the Parthenon frieze (FIG. 3-38) and how do they differ?
8. How did the Greeks and the Romans differ in their conceptions of architectural space? Include in your discussion the Greek Parthenon (FIGS. 2-33 & 2-34), the Roman Pantheon (FIGS. 3-33 to 3-35), the Baths of Caracalla (FIG. 3-38) and the Basilica of Constantine (FIG. 3-34). How did the building techniques used in each determine the types of spaces that could be constructed?
9. Discuss the development of Roman portraiture by comparing and contrasting the heads of a Republican Roman (FIG. 3-10), Augustus (FIG. 3-21), Vespasian (FIG. 10-35), Caracalla (FIG. 3-39), Trajan Decius (FIG. 3-40), and Constantine (FIG. 3-43). How do the various portraits relate to the concept of “likeness” and/or to political statements?
10.Analyze the stylistic differences between the reliefs from the Parthenon (FIG. 2-38) and the reliefs from the Arch of Constantine (FIG. 3-46). In what ways do the style and subject matter of these reliefs reflect the social, religious, and political concerns of the society for which each was made?
11. In what ways was the decline of Roman power reflected in art during the 3rd and 4th centuries?
PICTORIAL ANALYSIS
LOOKING CAREFULLY, DESCRIBING, AND ANALYZING
Write at least two pages comparing the Greek tombstone shown on FIG. 2-42 with the Roman sarcophagus shown on FIG. 3-41, looking very carefully and describing what you see. First do a formal analysis using the following terms: form and composition, material and technique, space, mass and volume.
Then do an iconographic analysis. How many people are shown in each scene? How are they related to each other? What is each one doing? What is each one wearing? What do you think is the meaning of the different treatment of the hair? What accessories can you find? What do all these things tell us about the people that are depicted in the two scenes, and what is the meaning of each?
SUMMARY OF ETRUSCAN ART
Look at pages 89-93 of the text, and enter the approximate dates for Etruscan art production.
Etruscan: ______BCE to ______BCE
Fill in the charts below as much as you can from memory; check your answers against the text and complete the charts.
Typical Examples Stylistic Characteristics Significant Historical People, Events,
Ideas, etc.
______
Etruscan
Architecture
______
Etruscan
Painting
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Etruscan
Sculpture
SUMMARY OF ROMAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND
Using the timeline on page 121 of the text, enter the approximate dates for the following periods.
RomanRepublic: ______BCE to ______BCE
Early Empire: ______BCE to CE ______
High Empire: CE ______to ______
Late Empire: CE ______to ______
Fill in the charts as much as you can from memory; check your answers against the text and complete the charts.
Significant People Political & Historical Cultural Factors &
EventsInfluences
______
RomanRepublic
______
Early Empire
______
High Empire
______
Late Empire
SUMMARY OF ROMAN PAINTING
Typical Examples Stylistic Characteristics
______
First Style
______
Second Style
______
Third Style
______
Fourth Style
SUMMARY OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
Typical Examples Stylistic Characteristics
______
RomanRepublic
______
Early Empire
______
High Empire
______
Late Empire
SUMMARY OF ROMAN SCULPTURE
Typical Examples Stylistic Characteristics
______
RomanRepublic
______
Early Empire
______
High Empire
______
Late Empire
MAP
Locate and circle the following locations on the maps below:
VeiiRomeNimesPompeiiFaiyum
Map 3-1 The Roman Empire