Roman Art

The Rising Power of Rome:

Origins of Rome
 Under rule of Etruscan
kings, Rome grew in
size and importance.
 By end of 6th Century,
Rome was the richest
and largest city in
Italy.
 Romans wanted
independence, so in
509 B.C. drove out
Etruscans and
established republic.
The Rising Power of Rome
 Most of the roman art was copied from
the Greeks
 It can be said that the Romans became
the heirs of Greek art although they also
made important contributions of their
own, especially in the development of
architecture.
The Roman Republic
 Surrounded by enemies, Romans forced to
fight for survival.
 As Rome defended itself, increased republic
size to encompass all of Italy.
 After defeating their chief rival Carthage,
Rome gained Sicily and became an
powerful empire.
 At its height of power, Rome controlled
lands from Britain to the Mesopotamia.
Greek Influence
 Much of Roman art was copied from the
Greeks.
 From early on, affluent Romans admired
all types of Greek art.
 Large amounts of Greek art was brought
to Rome, including some Greek artists.
 Romans considered heirs of Greek art,
though they made their own
contributions, especially in architecture.
Roman Sculpture and Painting:
Portrait Sculpture
 In sculpture and painting, Roman artwork heavily reflects
earlier influence of Greek artists.
 Since Rome’s beginning, lifelike sculptures have been heavily
desired.
 At the time, wax masks were used during funerals and to honor
the dead.
 However, a more durable building material was needed, as wax
did not last long
 So, marble and stone became widely used, and artists who
worked with these became highly valued.
Portrait Sculpture
 Lifelike portrait sculptures can be traced back
to the earliest period of Rome’s history
 Wax masks of deceased family members were
made to be carried in funeral processions
Man of the Republic
 Roman portraits create a feeling of looking
at a real person, perhaps someone that
may even look familiar.
 All Roman portrait sculptures depict real
people.
 These sculpture use wrinkles and
imperfections to express the character of
the subject.
Differences Between Greek and
Roman Sculpture
 Many Roman sculptors came from Greece.
 These artists worked in the altered
traditional Greek style to fit Roman
standards.
 Greeks preferred idealistic portraits, where
Romans preferred realistic portraits.
 Romans wanted realism because most of
their portraits were intended for private
display.
Mural Paintings
 Many of the mural paintings painted
within homes were of landscapes and
pictures of buildings that suggested a
world that lay beyond the walls of the
room.
Subjects of Mural Paintings
 Mural- A large painted directly on the wall
>Paintings of outdoor areas recreated onto the
wall as if it was really there
landscapes- a painting, photograph, or other
works of art that shows natural scenery)
>Pictures of buildings
>Paintings of people doing actions (ex pg 194)
~maiden gathering flowers
Mural Paintings
Roman Architecture
 Many examples of Roman architecture still survive
today, unlike their paintings and sculptures.
 The Romans designed and built many things to link
and glorify their vast empire:
 Roads
 Harbors
 Aqueducts
 Sewer Systems
 Buildings for leisure and business
 Romans wanted to become first great builders of
the world.
Architecture
 Temples
 Were used by Romans to satisfy their own
needs and tastes
 Maison Carree: Nimes, France
 Columns do not surround the structure,
instead only used for the
Portico: a structure consisting of a roof
supported by columns or piers, usually attached
to a building as a porch
 Along the sides and back half-columns are
attached to create a decorative pattern
Architecture
 Temple complex in Palestrina
 The route to this temple is called the

Appian Way and is lined with the

grand villas and tombs of wealthy
Roman citizens
 The temple became home of the

famous oracle (Fortuna- the goddess

of good fortune)
Design of the Temple Complex
 The Temple of Fortuna
Primigenia was part of
a large complex which
had arches, terraces,
and more.
 Arches were used to
span openings, and
barrel vaults to roof
large spaces.
 Barrel Vault- A series
of round arches from
front to back that
form a tunnel.
 However, because of
the weight of the
ceilings, the walls
remained windowless.
Innovations Architecture
 Aqueduct- a system that carried water
from mountain streams into the cities by
gravitational flow.
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Roman Aqueducts
 Aqueducts show Rome’s practicality in combining
form with function in ancient times.
 Aqueduct- A system that carried water from
mountain streams into cities by using gravitational
flow.
 These were designed for efficient transportation of
water, using a series of arches, and also happened
to be attractive.
 Constructed of granite blocks laid without mortar,
its sharp angles broke the force of the water.
 Eleven were built in Rome, and could range from
10-60 miles in length.
 Carried around 270 million gallons of water a day.
Innovations Architecture
 Baths- vast enclosed structures that
contained libraries, lecture rooms,
gymnasiums, shops, restaurants, and
pleasant walkways
 Keystone- top stone of the arch.
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Innovations in Structure
 The round arch improved on the
structurally weaker post and lintel system.
 The lintel, if made of stone and expanded
over a large space would break.
 An arch is made of cut bricks or stones held
together by a keystone.
 Keystone- Top stone of an arch.
 However, a large arch would tend to
collapse on itself, so smaller series of
arches were instead.
Roman Buildings and
Monuments
 Roman Emperors constantly buildings and
rebuilding the cities of their empire.
 Emperor Augustus- Claimed he found Rome a
city of brick and stone and left it a city of
marble.
 As often as possible, bath, amphitheaters,
and other monuments were built for the
enjoyment of the public.
 Emperors did this to maintain their
popularity.
Design of the Baths
 Every large Roman city contained baths.
 Each contained similar features, included
series of progressively cooler pools of
water:
 The Calidarium- First and contained hot water
 The Tepidarium- Second and was a warm bath
 The Frigidarium- Last and had cool water
 These different rooms were maintained by
slave tended furnaces underneath the
building.
The Baths of Caracalla
 Built in the 3rd Century A.D. by emperor
Caracalla, it is one of the most famous baths
ever.
 Its sprawled over 30 acres, with a massive
bathhouse and a central hall that was 180 feet
long and 77 feet wide.
 This hall was spanned by concrete groin vaults.
 Groin Vault- A vault that is formed when two barrel
vaults meet right angles.
 The use of the groin vaults allowed for buildings
to cover larger areas and windows to be placed
in the now unencumbered walls.
Innovations Architecture
 Groin vault- two barrel vaults meet at
right angles
 Barrel Vault- a series of round arches
from front to back that form a tunnel
The Baths of Caracalla
 One of the most famous baths
 30 acres and had a bathhouse that
measured 750 feet by 380 feet.
 A huge central hall over 180 feet long
and 77 feet wide was spanned with
concrete groin vaults.
The Colosseum
 Large arena, Covers 6 acres and forms a
complete oval 615 feet by 510 feet.
 Over the centuries people carried off
large masses of the stone to create new
buildings until Pope Benedict XIV put a
stop to it
Buildings for Sports Events
 Chariot races were by far Romans
favorite spectator sport.
 Up to 150,000 Romans would gather
at Circus Maximus to witness sporting
events.
 Eventually, 64 days of the year were
devoted to chariot races.
The Colosseum's interior
 80 arched openings enabled spectators
to enter and leave
 The “Door of Life” was reserved for
victorious gladiators and the slain
gladiators were carried through the
“Door of Death”

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Greek Influences on the Colosseum
 Exterior- four stories, constructed of
stone, brick, and concrete
 Top level- Corinthian pilasters (Flat,
rectangular columns attached to a wall)
 Between pilasters; small holes
 Holes places in holes to support
canvassing that protect spectators rain
or shine
The Colosseum
 Chariot races, armed contests,
gladiator contests
 5,000 gladiators fought to death and
11,000 animals were killed in a day!!
 Innovations in Material: Concrete
 The building material that was first used
by the Romans and allowed for stability
and strength in large buildings
 With the advent of concrete, the Romans
had a versatile material that was used in
the Temple of Fortuna Primigenia.
 Rome was first civilization to use
concrete to its best capacity.
 Concrete and the arch allowed Romans
to build on a much larger scale.
Public Buildings and Structures
 The Pantheon
 Designed as a temple to all the roman

gods
Illuminating the Pantheon’s
Interior
 Though there are no interior
windows, the Pantheon is still well
light.
 A 30 foot round opening in the dome
provides the only source of light.
 The light is sharp and bright, and
also allows for the sky to be seen.
 A raised floor and drainage system
are used to combat any rainfall.
 Oculus: Latin
for "eye"/
opening in the
ceiling of the
pantheon
 Niches-
recesses in the
wall
 Coffers:
Indented
panels
Public Buildings and Structures
 Basilicas
 Spacious rectangular building
 Designed as a court of law and public
meeting hall
 Served as models for generations of
Christian church builders
Plan of Basilicas

 Inside, rows of slender columns divided the

space into a nave and two narrower sides.
 Nave- A long, wide center aisle.
 Had a higher roof at the center and
therefore could add windows.
 Had a side entrance, wooden roofs, and
one area called an apse.
 Apse- Semicircular area at the end of the
nave.
 Transept- an aisle that cuts directly across the
nave and the side isles in a basilica and forms a
cross shaped floor plan
Basilica
Public Buildings and Structures
 Triumphal Arches: heavily decorated
arch
 After an important victory the general
and his troops would pass under the
arch
 The Arch of Constantine was the
largest and most elaborate of the
arches
The Arch of Constantine
 Largest and most elaborate Triumphal
Arch.
 Decorated with sculptures from other
monuments of earlier emperors.
 As the monument was dedicated to
Constantine, the transferred images
had to be altered to resemble
Constantine.
Triumphal Arches
Declining Power
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The Declining Power of Rome
 Rome’s power began to decline when the
capital was shifted to the city of Byzantium, in
the Eastern Roman Empire.
 In 330 A.D., the emperor Constantine I
renamed the city Constantinople, and this
marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire.
 The Western Roman Empire continued to
decline, and in 410 A.D., Rome was conquered
by the Visigoths.
 The Western Roman Empire had ceased to
exist by the 5th Century A.D.