Ancient Rome Flashcards
Verism and Veristic Portraiture
The Romans had a Senate of wealthy, slave-owning, old men. Patricians (wealthy, landowning citizens) would commission portraits known as imagines as a way to commemorate their ancestors. The style of these portraits was known as verism. They depicted age to show wisdom and experience, and we mainly true portraits, not stylized. (See Man with Portrait Busts of Busts of His Ancestors from 1st century BCE)
Relief with Funerary Procession
Amiternum, Italy. Late 1st Century BCE.
Slavery popular in Ancient Rome, freed slaves wanted to show prove themselves by commissioning art.
Patrons were freed slaves
Broken registers show depth.
First Style Wall Painting
Simplest wall pinting
Shows surface with a variety of faux stones (See Samnite House, 2nd Century BCE)
Second Style Wall Painting
Create illusion of space, dissappearance of wall
Use of objects and architecture Perspective
Incorporates First Style patterns (See Dionysiac Mystery Frieze at Pompeii, 60-50 BCE) (See Villa of Publius Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale, Italy. Now at MET/from NY trip 50-40 BCE)
Third Style Wall Painting
Very simple/flat Color with minimal perspective Perspective inaccurate, just shows depth by going into blank space (See Villa Agrippa Postumus at Boscotrecase, Italy, 10 BCE. Now at MET/blocked area on NY trip)
Fourth Style Wall Painting
Mix of Second and Third (See House of Nero, Rome, 64-68 CE)
Portrait of Augustus as General
Primaporta, Italy. 20 BCE. Octavian/Augustus Julius Caesar’s nephew and adopted son Took Rome as emperor Claimed to be related to Venus (Cupid in corner) Made himself God/general/priest
Ara Pacis
Rome, Italy. 13-9 BCE. Pax Romana (peace) period
Built after war, depicts peace Acanthus plant shows Greek inspiration Panels: -Female Personification, possibly Tellus or Venus. Personification of plenty. -Procession of Imperial Family shows Augustus only cares for upper class and their lack of reproduction, so children depicted
Pont-du-Guard
Nimes, France. 16 BCE
Row of arches=arcade Concrete aqueduct and bridge
By destroying aqueducts, enemies could easily kill Romans
House of Nero, Golden House
Rome, Italy. 68 CE.
Octagonal hall
Oculus
Concrete
Foundation of Flavian Amphitheater
Flavian Amphitheater, Colosseum
Rome, IDIOTly (am I right ladies?) 70-80 CE
Built by Vespacian
On top of Nero’s palace and water channels
Allowed for Naval Battles
Velarium-Rectractable roof manned by guards
Engaged columns
Tuscan, Ioinic, Corinthian, Pilasters
Hypogeum-underground controls
Arch of Titus
Rome, Italy. Post 81 CE. More like arch of TOOTis am I right ladies?
Triumphal arch Post and lintel, barrel vault, attic
Inside:
- Titus destroyed Temple of Solomon of the Jews (after Babylonians) and Ariel will never forgive him
- Start of diaspora for Jews
- Israel created in 1948
- Titus leading army with Nike
- First God with mortal depiction
Forum of Trajan
Rome, Italy. 112 CE.
This is taking longer than I thought oh my god its almost noon I’m going to fail somebody hug me rn
Trajan took power after Nerva died First Spanish emperor
Basilica Ulpia 2 libraries, one Roman and other Latin
Markets of Trajan
Column of Trajan
Rome, Italy. 112 CE.
Tells story of Dacians
Wisdom over strength
Where Trajan is buried (spoopy)
As high as hill they leveled
Arch of Trajan
Rome, Italy duh. 112 CE.
More detailed than Titus’s Trajan feeding hungry, helping poor
Propoganda
Pantheon
Rome, Italy. 118-125 CE.
Possibly designed by Hadrian himself.
Says M Agrippa, who designed original
“Temple to all Gods”
Converted to church
Coffers relieve weight
Oculus lets in light and symbolizes earth and sun
Bernini the bootyhole added giant clock towers (bigger than a tower I ain’t talking bout Eifel, am I right ladies?) for some reason then they were taken down
Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and Faustina
Rome, Italy. 161 CE.
-Marcus Aurelius and wife, Faustina going up to heaven together even though they died at different times
Rome personification
Shield shows wolf with Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome)
-Other side like lower class art Similar to Funerary Procession
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius
Rome, Italy. 175 CE. Bronze
Not destroyed because confused with Constantine
Way too big for his horsey.
Last good emperor
Beard shows he is wise like Hadrian
CARACALLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
enjoy a picture of me literally crying next to this statue!!!!!
Now at MET. 211-217 CE.
Soldier emperor period Emperors killed frequently
Father, Septimus Severus, wanted Caracalla and brother, Geta, to rule together, but Caracalla killed his brother (like the babe he is!)
Built baths run by slaves for the people
Four Tetrarchs
Can’t go back to Constantinople doo doo doop. 305 CE. Realized Roman Empire was too big, split it up east and west
Augustus and Caesar of each section
Porphyry really strong, Doodle Clark touched it
Arch of Constantine
Rome, Italy. 312-315 CE.
First Christian Roman emperor Baptized on deathbed
Copied from Arch of Trajan and Titus but changed faces Artists less skilled
Next to Colosseum
Temple of Portunus
Rome, Italy, 75 BCE
Prtunus God of harbors
Ionic Pseudo-Peripteral
Concrete facing
