Roman Art

Origins: Etruscans

• an ancient civilization in Italy, known for their sophisticated culture and powerful maritime influence

• Influenced early Roman religion, art, and urban planning.

• Skilled in bronze work (e.g., Capitoline She-Wolf).

• Used arches before Romans adopted and refined them.

Architecture: Vaults

Barrel Vault

• Long, continuous arch forming a tunnel-like ceiling.

• Used in baths, basilicas, and corridors.

Groin Vault

• Intersects two barrel vaults at right angles.

• Allowed for open, flexible interior space (e.g., markets, basilicas).

Greek Orders Adapted: Tuscan & Composite Orders

• Tuscan: Simplified Doric (no fluting, plain base), used in temples and military buildings.

• Composite: Combines Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus, very ornate, imperial contexts.

Aquaduct: Pont du Gard

• Aqueduct + bridge

• Uses multiple arcades: a series of arches supported by columns

• Roman engineering

Triumphal Arches

• Arch of Titus: Commemorates Roman victory in Judea.

• Arch of Septimius Severus: Victory over Parthians; elaborate sculptural relief.

• Symbolic of imperial propaganda

The Dome: Pantheon

• Temple to all gods, revolutionary dome.

• Largest unreinforced concrete dome

• Oculus (central opening) brings light and symbolizes heaven.

• Combines Traditional Greek exterior with Roman engineering innovation.

• Roman Concrete: allowed for durable, architectural freedom, large-scale structures. Concrete dome.

Pompeii and Its Characteristics

• Ancient Roman city

• Offers exceptional preservation of Roman daily life, art, and architecture

• Grid street plan introduced

• Provides insight into Roman urban design and domestic life

Domestic Buildings (1): The Domus

Type of house occupied by the higher classes

Two types:

• Domus Italica - House of the Surgeon

  Traditional Roman townhouse with central atrium, compluvium (roof opening), and tablinum

• Hellenized Domus -

• House of the Vettii (Decorative, frescoes)

• House of the Silver Wedding (symmetry)

• House of the Faun (largest, famous mosaics and sculpture)

  Combines Italic plan with Greek features like peristyle courtyards and elaborate decoration

Domestic Buildings (2): The Villa

• Roman country homes, often for elite or agriculture

• Two types:

  • Villa urbana: near city, luxury retreat

  • Villa rustica: working estate with staff

Villa of the Mysteries

• Known for the Dionysiac frieze (Second Style wall painting)

• Combines domestic, spiritual, and ceremonial functions

Domestic Buildings (3): The Insula

• Urban apartment blocks for middle/lower-class Romans

• Often multi-story, with shops on ground level

• Insula of Diana

  • Courtyard-centered, communal living

  • Offers contrast to elite domus and villas

Mosaics and Sculpture in Homes

House of the Faun

• Dancing Faun: bronze statue in atrium, celebrates leisure and Greek influence

• Alexander Mosaic: large floor mosaic, shows Battle of Issus; based on Hellenistic painting

  • realism, movement, dramatic narrative

Cave Canem Mosaic

• "Beware of the dog" mosaic in House of the Tragic Poet

• functional decoration

Roman Wall Painting: First Style – Incrustation Style

• Mimics colored marble panels using tecnique stucco relief: a decorative plaster technique that creates a three-dimensional effect on walls

• Examples:

  • House of the Vettii, Pompeii

  • Villa of the Mysteries, faux-marble walls

Roman Wall Painting: Second Style – Architectural Style

• Uses illusionistic architecture, linear perspective to open space

  • Villa of P. Fannius Synistor, Boscoreale: painted columns, landscape views

  • Home of Julia Felix still life scenes

  • Villa of the Mysteries: Dionysiac frieze, life-size figures

Third Style – Ornate Style

• Flat, monochrome backgrounds with delicate decorative elements

• Central miniature scenes framed like artworks

• Villa of Agrippa Postumus delicate candelabra, mythological panels

Fourth Style – Composite/Fantastic Style

• Combines elements of previous styles: illusionism + flatness + ornament

• Often features mythological scenes, framed panels, and elaborate decoration

• House of the Vettii

  highly ornate, full of fantasy architecture and framed paintings

Roman Forum and Its Characteristics

• Center of Roman public life

• Open plaza surrounded by temples, basilicas, arches, and government buildings

Temples

• Temple of Vesta: Round plan, symbolic eternal flame

• Temple of Antoninus and Faustina: Dedicated to a deified emperor and his wife; shows imperial cult integration

Basilicas

• Large public buildings for law, business, and civic use

• Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine: Monumental scale; concrete vaulting; transitional to Christian church design

Sculpture

Colossus of Constantine: Giant seated statu, symbolic of emperor’s power; located in basilica

Trajan’s Forum and Its Characteristics

• Grandest imperial forum; symbol of Roman power and conquest

• Included Basilica Ulpia, Trajan’s Column, libraries, and a market

• Celebrated victory over Dacians

Buildings

Theatres

• Semicircular seating, orchestra, and raised stage building (eg. Theatre at Orange; Theatre at Mérida)

Amphitheatres

• Oval arenas for gladiator games, hunts, and public spectacles (eg. Amphitheatre at Mérida; Colosseum)

Circuses

• Long, rectangular arenas with central spine for chariot races. Massive spectator capacity.

• eg. Circus Maximus; Circus at Mérida

Baths

• Daily public social life, with hot (caldarium), warm (tepidarium), and cold (frigidarium) rooms

• Included gyms, libraries, gardens

• eg. Baths of Caracalla, Stabian baths at Pompeii

Portrait Sculpture: Characteristics

• Emphasized individual identity, age, status, and political messaging

Key Examples:

• Statue of a Roman Patrician: Draped toga, veristic realism, conveys wisdom and age

• Veristic Male Portrait: Hyper-realistic; wrinkles, age, gravitas—Republican ideal of civic virtue

• Augustus of Primaporta:

  • Idealized yet political; youthful, divine lineage (Cupid & dolphin)

  • Combines Classical Greek style with imperial propaganda