trompe l’oeil – “trick of the eye” or “fool the eye,” a two-dimensional artwork designed...
TRANSCRIPT
Vocabulary
Trompe l’oeil – “trick of the eye” or “fool the eye,” a two-dimensional artwork designed to make the viewer believe it is in three dimensions
Sarcophagi – Stone coffins used in Roman sculpture
Fresco – A painting on wet plaster; the image becomes part of the wall rather than being painted on it
Aqueduct - A pipe or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity
Early Roman History
Rome was once controlled by the Etruscans who conquered Italy
Once the Etruscans were driven out of Rome, the Romans established a republic True power rested with the people and not a
single branch of government Functioned much like a democracy
Rome gained wealth and power through military conquest
Roman History cont.
The republic failed due to civil war and Julius Caesar was elected dictator for life Caesar was assassinated shortly after taking
office Caesar’s most lasting achievement was the
Julian calendar This is the calendar we follow today
Caesar’s nephew Octavian replaced him and Octavian was given the name Augustus The name means the fortunate and the
blessed
Pax Romana (The Roman Peace)
Under the reign of Augustus Rome advanced Roads, bridges, and aqueducts were built A common currency was established Police and firefighters were employed
Some negative aspects to the Roman empire Religious persecution (particularly Christians) Outlying provinces were inclined to revolt
Law
Rome developed a legal system that was based on knowledge of the laws
This allowed the legal system to be more generalized and fair
Stoicism
Stoicism became popular in Rome Philosophy dealing with supreme intelligence Acceptance of fate and duty Kinship of all people through intellect
Stoicism also gave birth to the concept of providing justice for everyone
Stoicism’s emphasis on inquiry brought on difficult times under Emperor Nero who tried to eliminate free thinking
Neo-Platonism
An incorporation of the teachings of Plato with ideas related to Stoicism and Epicureanism
Developed by Plotinus Neo-Platonism dealt with the nature of
beauty and art Beauty reflects a unified universe where
individual beauty reflects a universal harmony Art then forms a bridge between beauty
and the natural world
Mystery Cults
The Romans were polytheistic Roman gods were often the same as the
Greek gods but with Roman names (i.e. Jupiter/Zeus)
Romans observed strict rituals The constant repetition of rituals was the key
to prosperity
Classicism
Romans amplified the notions of Classicism that were developed by the Greeks
Roman art and architecture reflected the ideas of clarity, harmony, and intellect In some cases the Romans simply copied the
Greeks Other times, the Romans would add a slight
twist
Utilitarianism and Pragmatism
Rome sought a government that provided the greatest good for the greatest amount of people Utilitarianism relies on what has the most
social value in a society Romans also discouraged existential
ideas and speculation in favor of practical usage Pragmatism focuses on the usefulness of an
idea or object
Painting
Most of what survives of Roman painting lies in fresco The images are actually part of the wall,
rather than decorations on them Frescos employed bright colors Roman frescos usually depict a
panoramic landscape and utilize a trompe l’oeil “Trick of the eye” that creates the illusion of
three dimensions
Painting cont.
Most of the surviving frescos come from the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum
These frescos also demonstrate the technical virtuosity that was associated with Hellenistic Greece
Sculpture
Portrait sculptures were used to honor family members, successful politicians, and military heroes
A much more lifelike sculpture than any that have come before it
Sculpture cont.
The classical Greek notion of the idealized form grew in Roman sculpture
This translated into sculptures of emperors with superhuman physical qualities This most likely comes as
a result of an elevated level of status for the emperor.
Trajan’s Column
128 feet tall column decorated with relief sculptures
A spiral staircase inside the column leads to the highest spot where a statue of Trajan once stood
The relief sculptures make their way up the column in a spiral pattern
The sculpture relies on symbolism (wavy lines for water, jagged lines for mountains, etc.) to tell the many accomplishments of Trajan
Sculpture cont.
Romans decorated their sarcophagi with relief sculptures as well
Depending on where the sarcophagus was built, the decorations would change Athens – decorated on all four sides with
scenes from Greek mythology Asia Minor – figures carved around
architectural details Rome – carved on three sides with one
mythological scene and a blank side to sit against a wall
Architecture
Similar to the Greek classical style, the Romans relied on structures like the post-and-lintel system
Romans used engaged columns Columns that were part of a wall as opposed
to the freestanding Greek columns The most identifiable feature of Roman
architecture is the arch
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the most famous of all Roman structures
Held gladiatorial matches and other sporting events
Featured awnings to shade the audience and an elaborate space below the arena to house athletes, animals, and machines to raise and lower scenery
Architecture
Romans were also known for their triumphal arches Large archways
with relief sculptures meant to honor military conquest
This arch pays homage to Titus and his conquest of Jerusalem
Architecture
Roman aqueducts were also prominent structures
These were used to transport water over long distances
Theatre Romans loved to be
entertained Their primary sources of
entertainment came from comedies and blood sport
Comedies typically contained slapstick humor and lewd acts on stage In keeping with Roman
pragmatism, comedies served the vital purpose of keeping people’s minds off of their problems
Blood sport consisted of the violent gladiatorial matches and animal fights
Music
Romans enjoyed music Music festivals, competitions, and
virtuoso performances were held regularly
Some emperors funded musicians and music teachers were well paid
The hydraulos (water organ) was used to provide background music to the events at the Colosseum Some reports suggest that the
hydraulos could be heard from over a mile away
The Romans also invented the brass trumpet for military use
Dance
Romans developed a style of dance known as pantomime (using gestures and body movements without words)
Dancers would convey several kinds of emotions through their gestures and movements Would also involve costume changes and background
music Pantomime was highly interpretive and usually
involved tragic themes Some pantomimes were also very sexual in nature
and bordered on the pornographic (I bet they danced like you guys do)