Art history- Early roman empire

Villa of Marcus Agrippa, Boscotrecase

Who was the owner of the villa at Boscoreale? What style of Roman wall paintings are preserved in the villa? What are the characteristics of this style?

Owner—Belonged to imperial- Marcus Agrippa, son-in-law of augustus

Third style wall paintings

• Flat backgrounds, thin and delicate architectural frames

• Tiny central vignettes- landscapes myth scenes temples

• strong influence of egyptian motifs- reflecting egptian influence after conquest of Egypt

3rd style- Villa at Booscotrecase

• Flat monochromatic background

• tiny vignettes

• Eyptian motifs→ Augustian Egyptomania

Villa of Marcus Agrippa: 4th style

Who were the Vetti? What are some of the notable features of their house in Pompeii? What is represented in the houses’ painted decoration?

• Belonged to Aulus Vettius—former enslaved men who became wealthy

• Their rise in status is reflected in the lavish decoration of their home

Notable features

• Best-preserved elite house in Pompeii

• 4th style—Combo of all 3 styles, very detailed—framed paintings in the dining room and other rooms.

• Central garden with sculptures and a fountain—the layout emphasizes wealth and elite social performance.

Important paintings

• Entrance painting of Priapus: shows a fertility god with money bag- symbolizes prosperty and protection.

• Other rooms- myth scenes, cupids

Overall: decoration communicated wealth, cultural literacy, divine favor and social power

4th style: Fresco of Pentheus: Triclium Paiting—House of the Vettii

• Owned by formerly enslaved wealthy brothers

• Dramatic myth scenes

• Death of Pentheus: a mythical scene showing Pentheus being torn apart for going against orders from the Greek god Dionysus—showing a myth about divine punishment.

Augustus of Prima porta - Marble

How is Augustus represented in the statue Augustus of Prima Porta? How does Augustus’ portraiture compare to earlier veristic portraits?

• Showing eternal youth—in contrast to republican verism

• Idealized!

• Marble statue: Cupid and dolphin on him—showing divine descent from Venus- sea and love- goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and victory.

• Showing diplomatic victory and how gods are proud of what he did! (on his side)

How does it differ?

• No wrinkles, no aging→ shirft to imperial propaganda

Portrait of Livia- Augustus’ wife

• Youthful and idealized

• Showing gender ideal of women: loyal wife and mother of rome

• family unity

What is the Ara Pacis? What was its function? Who built it and when? Where was it located? What is represented in its relief sculpture?

• It is an outdoor altar celebrating Augustan peace

• located near the Tiber in Rome

• Dedicated by the Senate

Reliefs:

• West: Aeneas, Romulus/Remus

• East: Roma and Mother Earth

• North/South: Imperial family procession

West Frieze—Aeneas/Romulus & Remus

• Aeneas

• Represents Rome’s mythical origins.

• Reinforces Augustus’ claim to divine ancestry

• Panels

East Frieze—Roma & Mother Earth (Tellus/Venus)

• Roma and Mother Earth

• Symbolizes fertility, peace, and prosperity under Augustus

North and South Frieze

Which children on the north and south friezes were traditionally identified as Gaius and Lucius? What identities does Rose assign instead? What are his reasons?

• These boys were Gaius and Lucius Caesar Augustus’ adopted children, showing the same view on adopted vs. birth children

• Rose’s argument: these boys were foreign (barbarian) hostages, not from Rome.

Reasons: NON ROMAN LOOKING

• Clothing is NON-ROMAN; not wearing a toga

• Hairstyles do not match what Roman boys of elite status wore

• Demonstrates the boys as having diplomatic importance, not familial. Demonstrates these bodies are of diplomatic importance, not familial.

How do the Ara Pacis and its friezes represent the political and cultural context of the early Roman Empire? Why include barbarian children?

It represents the Early Empire ideology

• shows the imperial family participating in a religious practice

• Shows how they conquered territories and took the children of rulers to brainwash and control as their own.

• The control and rebellion of Augustus through expansion and control

Why barbarian children?

• Shows the assimilation of Rome, reinforcing the message- Rome brings peace order and fertility to the world.

Which children does Rose identify as Gaius and Lucius? How does he explain their separation from their biological and adoptive fathers?

Rose: They appear but not traditionally

Separation: processions follow ritual and hierarchal order, not family grouping

• Children positioned by not family

• Separating them highlights their public identity as nonbiological family.

Maison Carree, Nimes, France- White Limestone

What was the function of the Maison Carrée? Where was it located? To whom was it dedicated? How does it compare to the Temple of Portunus?

Function: Civic Roman temple located in the forum with cult statues of Gaius and Lucis

Location: Nimes, Southern France - land out in provinces and rich had houses in poor areas

Who is this temple dedicated to? Augustus adopted sons Gaius and Lucius Caesar.

Includes a Corinthian monumental, ionic style

• Deep porch, high podium, grand entrance

Comparison to the porch plan of the Temple of Portunus.

Shows how this family is divine and has legitimacy in their power- roman identity abroad

G. Pont du Gard, near Nimes, France—Sandstone Aqueduct

What was the function of the Pont du Gard? How was it built? Why build such structures in the provinces?

• The function is to supply water to Nimes.

• It was built with no mortar, massive stones, and layered arches with an upper water channel and a lower walking level. It can be easily repaired, uses less material and large archways for wind. Stability

• Show engineering power, loyalty building, and urban improvement. .

• Romans have great infasctrue

Why build in provinces?

• Make life better in the city of Nimes—clean water and sanitation.

Portrait of Nero

• Youthful but heavier face

• Less idealized than Augustus

What was the Domus Aurea? Who built it and where? What were its significant features?

• Nero’s palace built after Great Fire

• Aeverus & Celer were the architects

• Massive villa complex, aritifical lake

• Lavish decoration→ public outrage

Significant features:

• Octagonal room, concrete dome, gardens and luxurious frescoes.

Portrait of Vespasian, from Rome—Marble

How is Vespasian portrayed? How does it compare to Julio-Claudian predecessors?

• Return to Republican verism

• older appeacne shows stability and modesty

• Contrasts the Julio-Claudian idealization

Realistic, aged verism

• contrasts with Julio-Claudian idealism

• Shows stability in Rome after Nero

The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater)

Function, location, funding, and architectural features?

Function: Amphitheater for gladiatorial games and spectators

Location: Site of Nero’s lake, funded by Vespasian’s spoils of Jewish War

Feature: Concrete vaults, doric, ionic and corithian levels, velarium awning systems- built by enslaved labor

Arch of Titus, Rome, Marble and Travertine

What is commemorated? Location? Patron? Sculpture?

• Celebrates victory in the Jewish War, located on Via Sacra

• Built by Domitian

Relief:

• Menorah being carries

• Titus crowned by Victory