Lecture by Ivy C. Dally

South Suburban College

South Holland, IL

Map of the Roman World

Brief Timeline of Roman History

Roman Republic 509- 27 BCE

Battle of Actium 31 BCE

Early Empire 27 BCE - 96

Pompeii Destroyed 79 CE

High Empire 96 CE –192

Late Empire 192 – 337

Constantinople 330

Marble portrait bust of Julius Caesar

History and Myth of the Republic

Legend states Romulus founded Rome on April 21, 753 BCE

Archaeology shows people in Rome ca. 1000, ruled by kings who eventually created the Forum and temple complexes on the Capitoline.

The last king, Tarquinius Superbus, was expelled in 509 BCE and replaced with rule by elected officials including Senators.

Under the Republic Rome’s dominions grew. With power came political strife; Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life, murder and civil war ensued, as well as the demise of the Republic in 27 BCE.

Top: Etruscan She-Wolf. Bottom: Forum in 2006.

Roman Art: What is it? Early art historians dismissed the idea of

“Roman” art, seeing it only as the final chapter of Greek art. :P

Roman art is a combination of the greatest art styles available in the west: Greek classicism

Egyptian symbolism

Etruscan/Italian portraiture

Architectural innovations from the ANE

Roman artists hail from all over the Mediterranean world…not just Rome.

Syncretism: diverse elements are brought together and combined to produce something entirely new.

Portrait of a Roman General, marble, ca. 75-50 BCE.

Heads of Roman Patricians (veristic style),

Marble, ca. 75-50 BCE (L) 1st cent BCE (R).

What do you think the Romans value in their elected officials?

Census-taking, relief detail from the Temple of

Neptune, Late second century, BCE.

Temple of Portunus, Rome, ca. 75 BCE.

Reconstruction of the Temple at Veii (based on archaeological finds

as well as Vitruvius’ description), Etruscan, ca. 500 BCE. Wood,

mudbrick, and terracotta.

The next class discussion will ask you to compare these two buildings, and….

Upper left: The Parthenon, 447-432 BCE Lower right: Temple of Portunus, ca. 75 BCE.

These two buildings.

Photo (above) and Model (right) of the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, late 2nd century BCE.

The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia

Dedicated to the goddess of fortune (ie luck).

Built up the side of a hill in 7 separate terraces. Bottom terraces held shops, a basilica, and a Senate house.

Topped by a theater and a circular temple dedicated to the goddess. Plays would have been performed as a religious act.

Early and important example of the use of concrete, brick, and Roman arches.

Concrete is durable, cheap, and easy to build with.

Arches and concrete allow for bigger buildings…an architecture of space.

The Augustan Principate:

The Empire Begins Augustus is now considered the

first emperor, but he and his contemporaries saw him as the first among equals, the “princeps”.

Art remains a means of propaganda. However, now the semi-divine qualities of the Emperor are stressed above all else.

Verism used rarely; a more

youthful and strong appearance desired in the Emperor (commander in chief, pontifex maximus, and ruler for life).

Augustus wearing the Corona Civica

Augustus of Primaporta, copy of a bronze original in marble, 20 BCE.

The Return of the Roman standards from the Parthians

Livia, Marble, early 1st century CE.

Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome, Marble, ca. 13-9 BCE.

Detail of a Female personification or goddess (perhaps

Pax or Italia or Tellus) from the Ara Pacis

Detail of the Imperial Family Frieze, Ara Pacis

“Volcano Day” August 24, 79 CE

We know much of the eruption

of Mt. Vesuvius from the eye

witness accounts of Pliny the

Younger and archaeological

research that began in the 18th

century.

The finds of Pompeii provide

insights into daily Roman life in

a colony.

To learn more visit

http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/p

ompeii/

The Roman House

Roman patrons (wealthy individuals, often patricians) conducted political business from their homes.

Designed to be enjoyed from the inside; lavish interior decoration.

These “villas” are not seen in large cities like Rome, where people lived in apartments.

House of the

Vettii, Pompeii,

ca. 62-79 CE

House of the Vettii, Peristyle

Road and Houses

Reconstruction of

store-fronts and road

in Pompeii

First Style Walling Painting

(Masonry Style),

ca. 2nd century BCE.

Artists imitate expensive materials with paint (ie faux finishing).

Faux finishes also seen in Greece and later on in other Roman structures.

Second Style Wall Painting (ca. 100-15 BCE)

Walls show scenes/

narratives from an imaginary 3D world.

Second style believed to be purely Roman.

Early example of the Second Style: Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii

Third Style Wall Painting,

ca. 10 BCE -50 CE

Walls are painted with

one main color, and then

embellished with small

decorative motifs.

The idea behind the 3rd

style is to make the wall

look like a painted wall.

Fourth Style Wall

Painting, ca. 50-79

Combination of prior 3 styles.

Very lavish; ornamental.

Architecture used to create the illusion of space, as well as for decorative purposes.

Portrait of a

Husband and

Wife, Pompeii,

ca. 70-79 CE.

Pompeii: A human tragedy

Fun with art history:

Dr. Who Season 4: The Fires of Pompeii presents a different look at what caused Mt. Vesvius to blow. Available on Netflix instant view.

Roman Republican and Augustan Art:

Review

Form/Media: Syncretism

Use of native stones in sculpture/architecture

Wall paintings

Subject Matter: Roman portraiture, esp. politically impt. people

Everyday life and current events

Combination of religion and politics

Content: Art is in the Service of the State; everyone plays their

assigned role.

Visual forms show the greatness of Rome, Rome as the culmination of all prior great civilizations.