constantine Flashcards
colossal statue of constantine
cataline museum
began as statue of Maxentius, and before that recut from a portrait of emperor Hadrian
gently curving locks of hair in fixed pattern (compare with insane antonine curls or soldier emperor type)
fixed gaze directed upwards
jewelled diadem revived/reinvented from hellenistic kings - becomes hallmark for emperors that follow him
constantine - first christian emperor?
he only converted on his death bed - people tend to be overly quick to find christian symbolism in the art of this period ie: assumption that the upturned gaze of his portraits is signifying devotion to the christian god - in actuality several emperors have the same look long before this
worth bearing in mind that this colours the scholarship
the burnt column
AD 330, constantinople
porphyry column in the central forum of the city
echoes the porphyry column for Antonius Pius, columns of Marcus Aurelius and Trajan
use of porphyry by wealthy
used by tetrachs quite a bit
winged victory, arch of constantine
312-315 AD, Rome
next to the colosseum not far from the forum, arch of titus to the left
very good for stylistic comparanda, figure also appears on Arch of Titus and Septimius
marble frieze - exactly the same image and even composition as above but the image is much flatter. the use of a drill makes details more deeply incised - creating a very schematic look in the drapery that strays from the traditional naturalism
limbs also appear more static and ‘awkward’ as far as their angle/foreshortening
Wings are quite striking - very deeply incised and almost geometric patterning rather than naturalism
arch of constantine, rome (general info)
inscription intact - dedicated by the senate and the people - quite conventional but alludes to him overcoming a faction in rome rather than a foreign enemy, glosses over his role as a usurper
subject of the friezes likewise quite conventional but stylistically distinct from second century naturalism/illusionism
change in taste? use of spoliation becomes more prolific perhaps a different expectation of what art achieves? often believed that the art of this time is ‘worse’ and they’re no longer capable of naturalism - not the case people are just judgy. the increased use of drills also probably had something to do with changing carving style
some speculation that the friezes are cannibalised from other monuments - dacian prisoners at the attic level supposedly from trajanic monument and recarved for constantine
frieze of the emperor presenting gifts of money, arch of constantine, rome
quite typical arch imagery
in this version of the scene, figured flat and repetitive in form, those behind front row are elevated to upper register rather than carved deeper - symbolic over naturalistic representation of the scene
frieze of constantine speaking to the crowd in the forum, arch of constantine, rome
typical imagery for arch
example of manipulation of space - the crowd have been pressed to the sides of his lectern rather than being depicted in front of him
schematic figural approach, very symmetrical because figures are unindividualised, all depicted in a limited number of poses
