Art History- High Roman Empire

Overview—Peak of Roman Power

• Rome reaches its greatest territorial extent, economic stability, and military strength.

• Era of the 5 good emperors (Nerva → Trajan → Hadrian → Antonius Pius → Marcus Aurelius)

• Height of imperial building projects, monumental art, and engineering.

• Portraiture shifted towards intellectualism (Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius) and eventually instability.

Bust of Trajan—Rome, marble

• Trajan was the first emperor of High Empire

• Gains legitimacy through the military; senate give him the title of Optimus Princeps

• Funded massive construction through money from Dacian wars

• Seen as a model emperor of justice, discipline and military greatness

• Portraits of him are clean-shaven and idealized but still realistic.

Who were the members of the Antonine Dynasty? What were their accomplishments?

• Antoninus Pius: Known for peace

• Marcus Aurelius: known for stability

• Lucius Verus: Legal reforms

• Commodus: Cultural flourishing

Forum of Trajan, Apollodorus of Damascus (architect)

Describe the Forum of Trajan. What buildings and monuments were included in the forum? What money was used to pay for its construction? Who was the forum’s architect?

• Largest imperial forum ever built

• Included: Basilica Ulpia, massive piazza, libraries, Trajan’s Column, and markets

• Paid for by Dacian war money

• Designed to be a political, judicial, and commercial center—imperial propaganda and civic use

• Architect: Apollodorus of Damascus

Column of Trajan

Describe the Column of Trajan. What was the function of the Column of Trajan? What is depicted in its sculptural decoration?

• Burial place of Trajan’s ashes

• The spiral frieze depicts Dacian campaigns in great detail

• shows roman energinerring, road building, diplomacy and battle

Function and imagery

• Monumental propaganda

• continuous narrative relief

Portrait of Hadrian

• Adopted son of Trajan—through politically disputed

• Has a beard, creating a new fashion look, imitates greek philiosphers

• Known for travel—visited more provinces than other emperors

• Promotes Greek culture

Pantheon, Rome

• Built under Hadrian, NOT AGRIPPA

• The interior dome symbolizes the heavens- the oculus is the eye of Jupiter

• Perfect circle inside a cylinder- largest dome in history (unreinforced)

• Used of coffering to reduce weight

Why was the Pantheon thought to be depicted by Agrippa? Where was the inscription?

• Agrippa inscription on the front was copied earlier Pantheon.

• Large bronze letters recorded Agrippa's original building

What information was included in the Severus/Caracalla inscription?

• Recorded their restorations

• located on the architrave

• shows continuity of imperial mainteance maintenance

What types of inscription did Augustus place of buildings? Did he name himself?

• often modest inscriptions

• Augustus avoided overclaiming credit

Why did Hadrian place Agrippa’s name rather than his own?

• Hadrian respected earlier buildings.

• Reflected antiquarian, modest building ideology

Pantheon, Rome

Why was the Pantheon long thought to have been depicted by Marcus Agrippa? Where was the Agrippa inscription on the Pantheon? How large was it, and what information did it include? What was Agrippa’s association with the Pantheon?

• The Agrippa inscription was reused on the front of the Pantheon.

• Hadrian kept Agrippa’s name to show modesty

• Severus and Caracalla inscription documents repairs

• Augustus often used modest inscriptions, and Hadrian follows this tradition

• Hadrian places Agrippa’s name as an ideological statement linking his rule to Rome’s past.

What was

Marcus Aurelius on Horseback- 164-166

How is Marcus Aurelius in the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius? What is the significance of his gesture? Why did this statue, standing alone out of numerous equestrian statues of roman emperors, survive?

• Made of gilded bronze

• gesture: saying a speech, orator pose or addressing troops

• This survived because medieval people thought he was Constantine, who was the first Christian emperor. - MISIDENTIFIED

• Marked by the crisis or german wars and the Antonine Plague.

• Calm authority