AP Art History Ancient Etruscan and Roman Visual and Contextual

Sarcophagus of the Spouses Visual

sarcophagus contains cremated ashes
in the form of a dining couch
dining couches are unique to Etruscans
shows an elite couple sharing a meal
their hands are animated, shows movement
shows couple in embrace with unrealistic turn in their bodies
bodies are elongated
stylized hair in braids and archaic smile
woman wears soft cap with pointed shoes (common with Etruscans)
sarcophagus was fired in kiln in multiple pieces
could have been painted
marble not available

Sarcophagus of the Spouses Contextual

banquet scene, common at Etruscan funerals
banquet is way to send off deceased to the afterlife
shows elevated status of Etruscan women in comparison to Greeks/Romans
Etruscan funerals were parties, shows off wealth
similar to Kouros with archaic smile

Temple of Minerva Visual

tufa block foundation, rest of building was wood and mudbrick
deep front porch with widely spaced Tuscan columns
Tuscan columns are non-fluted
only had one main entrance and a high podium
temple has triple cella, 3 rooms possibly used for 3 different deities

Temple of Minerva Contextual

Etruscans are similar to Greeks in using the archaic smile
Etruscans are different from Greeks in that male statues are clothed, Greeks were nude

Sculpture of Apollo Visual

sculpture of Apollo would have been placed at the top of the roofline of the temple
Etruscans placed statues there commonly
terracotta is available in region
Apollo would have been brightly painted
stylized hair and archaic smile
Apollo is covered with garment, unlike Greek Kouros
appears to be walking because of position of feet/body
could be a part of a group of figures that depicted a mythological narrative
archaic smile

Sculpture of Apollo Contextual

Etruscans are similar to Greeks in using the archaic smile
Etruscans are different from Greeks in that male statues are clothed, Greeks were nude

Tomb of the Triclinium Visual

chamber tomb, aka rock cut below ground chamber that house remains of deceased and grave goods/offerings
called Tomb of Triclinium because of banquet scenes that are frescoed on the walls depicting a triclinium
triclinium is dining room with three couches
each couch has a male and female
also dancers, musicians, etc all celebrating Etruscan funeral
female skin lighter, male skin darker

Tomb of the Triclinium Contextual

cheerful and light atmosphere reflects Etruscan festival funerals
banquet symbolizes sharing of last meal with the deceased, helping them transition to the dead
purpose of banquet is to reinforce social-economic status of the deceased
more money spent on funeral = how wealthy the deceased were

Alexander Mosaic from the House of Faun Visual

called House of Faun since when this was uncovered, there was a Faun statue there
mosaic on floor of wealthy merchant's home in Pompeii
believed to be a Roman mosaic of a Greek painting that was described in ancient text
depicts climatic turning point in war when Alexander the Great overthrows the Persian king, Darius III in 331 BCE
artist used different colored stones and glass to represent figures more naturally
in the original painting, Alexander and his men are not wearing helmets to indicate strength and fearlessness
all spears are pointed to Alexander, turning point in the battle where Darius retreats
uses foreshortening and brings action up to the front
1 million small tiles to create naturalistic figures

Alexander Mosaic from the House of Faun Contextual

Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD
covered Pompei with ash and rock
Pompeii was found in 1748
purpose of mosaic on the floor was to convey the education status of its owners
shows that they were literate
form of propaganda
based on Greek painting showing Alexander vs Darius

Head of a Roman patrician Visual

example of unidealized realism
considered veristic, means naturalistic and almost hyperrealistic
wrinkles represent age = wisdom and experience

Head of a Roman patrician Contextual

form of political art celebrating age and experience
believed that age brought wisdom, morality, courage, experience that was necessary to participate in government, specifically the Senate
honor for family to have a sculpture that represented their position in gov

House of the Vettii Visual

Roman townhouse or domus, discovered in Pompeii
frescos and artworks decorated the townhouse to impress clients
many were images of Puttii, mythological winged god associated with love
house contains atrium, a large open air space within a building
impluvium is sunken part of atrium that collects water

House of the Vettii Contextual

patron/owner receives clients in domus and would try to impress clients with furnishes and decorations of town house
townhouse had many artworks and frescos
frescos and artworks reflected the fourth style of wall painting
2 brothers owned the house, freedman (former slaves) who had risen in society and were part of new rich

Augustus of Prima Porta Visual

idealized portrait of Augustus Prima Porta
reflects classical Greek sculpture
Augustus was older, but is portrayed as a youthful godlike man
1 of 300 statues commissioned by Augustus to place throughout Roman Empire
piece of propaganda
Augustus is in contrapposto and is speaking with arm outstretched like orator
natural stance of speaker/leader
portrays self as great military leader wearing breastplate with gods that alludes to Pax Romana (Roman peace that occurred under Augustus)
depicted with Cupid riding dolphin
cuirass = breastplate

Augustus of Prima Porta Contextual

found at the private residence of his wife Livia
portrays self as great military leader wearing breastplate with gods that alludes to Pax Romana (Roman peace that occurred under Augustus)
depicted with Cupid riding dolphin
dolphin symbolizes his naval victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra
Cupid shows Augustus is descended from the gods
propaganda piece told from his point of view

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) Visual

Colosseum is named for the colossal statue of Nero that stood nearby
Flavian Amphitheater paid for the construction (hence the name)
built under Emperor Vespasian (a Flavian general) and his son Titus
made out of concrete, which was made by Romans
concrete is cheap and strong and allows for quick construction
seats 50,000 people with best seats being close to action
women, slaves, and foreigners were required to sit on the upper levels
had a velarium, an awning that took over thousand men to raise (protection from heat/rain)
arches were framed by engaged columns and a lentil
Doric column is on first story, ionic on second, and Corinthian on third story

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) Contextual

created to bring Rome together for shared events
had water for mock naval battles
also had wild animals
gladiatorial combats and executions were held here
Roman architecture revolutionized arches, vaults, and concrete
borrowed from Greeks and Etruscan
reflected ambitions of powerful empire

Forum of Trajan (Column) Visual

aka Column of Trajan
forum is center of Roman city where commercial, religious, economic, political, and legal social activity occurred
painted continuous narrative that described his victories with the nude statue of Trajan holding spear at very top
depicts Dacian wars victory
Trajan built bridge over Danube River
narrative/propaganda of self promotion (like Augustus)
grave marker of Trajan, his ashes built at base

Forum of Trajan Contextual

5 forums were built in Rome by emperors during Roman Imperial period
examples of public art in architecture that demonstrated power
column was built to commemorate Trajan’s military victories in Dacian Wars

Forum of Trajan (Forum) Visual

(forum) main structure was Basilica Ulpia, served as meeting hall for business and legal transactions
typically had rectangular base split into aisles by columns
had a roof
seen in early Christian churches
Apollodorus departed from traditional designs and used the Basilica as the main building
clerestory windows
now Basilicas are associated with churches/religion

Forum of Trajan (Markets) Visual

Trajan markets were adjacent to the Forum
multi-level commercial complex
Apollodorus of Damascus was master builder of entire forum

Pantheon Visual

has largest unsupported dome built out of concrete and stone
concrete is crucial to building of dome
oculus in middle to allow smoke to escape from sacrificial burning
dome was also made of square coffers, cut into dome to lighten weight of dome
central plan with dome

Pantheon Contextual

central plan with dome
originally, an early building made by Agrippa,
which was destroyed by fire
Pantheon was rebuilt maybe by Emperor
Trajan or Hadrian
originally a temple for Roman gods
later converted into a church

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus Visual

shows battle between Romans and Barbarians
similar to Greek Hellenistic style
lots of drama shown in chaotic battle scene
done in high relief
no focus on perspective
lack of realistic space
all figures are on top of each other
Romans are portrayed with clean noble faces
Barbarians have beards and large noses

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus Contextual

original function of this is a coffin
inspired by Greek Hellenistic styles