Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval Art Flashcards
Virgil
great Roman epic poet
author of the Aeneid
Aeneid
story of Trojan Prince Aeneas and eventual founding of Rome
necropolis
city of the dead
source of everything we know about Etruscan civilization
necropolises
terra cotta
translates to “red clay” or “red earth” (Latin)
used by Etruscans for sculpture
known as Cinerary Urn
from Etruscan civilization
head indicates gender
used to hold ashes
known as Sarcophagus of the Spouses
from Etruscan civilization
culture contact with Greece (Archaic smile)
made of terra cotta
shows spouses feeding each other on couch
approximately 7 feet long
fired in 2 pieces
used as coffin
known as Chimera or Chimera of Arezzo
from Etruscan civilization
depicts lion with goat head and snake tail
made of bronze
found in ruins of temple in Florence
known as Apollo from Veii
from Etruscan civilization
culture contact with Greece (Archaic smile and kore/korous stance)
made of terra cotta
non-funerary art
from Etruscan city of Veii
known as She-Wolf
from Etruscan civilization
found all over Rome
kids were added later on
wolf milk was said to make babies super strong
characteristics of Etruscan paintings
placement limited to tombs
use of bright colors
lack of proportionality
known as Tomb of the Lioness
from Etruscan civilization
culture contact with Egypt (man painted as red and women painted as pale)
culture contact with Greece (shape of vases)
tomb fresco
depicts afterlife as joyful
Roman contributions to modern society
pavement
republic government
Gregorian calendar
alphabet
language roots
architecture
4 developments that made Romans the bee’s knees of building (and how)
arch (allowed for building higher than ever before)
vault (allowed for building really big rooms)
dome (allowed for building really big rooms)
concrete (allowed for building stronger and more durable buildings)
known as Aquaduct at Pont du Gard
from Roman civilization
used arches
known as Basilica of Constantine
from Roman civilization
used vaults
used as public gathering space
could fit 9 Mercyhurst Preparatory School campuses inside
known as Pantheon
from Roman civilization
used dome
commissioned by Hadrian (credit given to Marcus Agrippa)
used as temple
rain does not fall in hole in ceiling
known as Colosseum
from Roman civilization
made of concrete
commissioned by Flavian dynasty
used to be covered in marble (stolen to build Saint Peter’s Basilica)
used to host fights between gladiators and/or animals
domus
translates to “house” (Latin)
style of single-family townhouse occupied by upper classes in ancient Rome
found in almost all major cities throughout Roman territories
insula
translates to “island” (Latin)
city block or apartment house in ancient Roman cities
typically constructed of brick or concrete
narrative relief
sculpture on a 2-dimensional surface that tells a story
orator pose
pose used in Roman sculpture to depict great speaker or politician
depicts person with hand raised to show speaking
known as L’arringatore or The Orator
from Roman civilization
depicts Roman senator
depicts orator pose
characteristics of republican portraiture
concern for reality over beauty
known as Augusta of Primaporta
from Roman civilization
republican portrait
depicts orator pose
depicts idealized rendition of Augustus
relief carving shown on breast plate
found in ruins of a house
barefootedness symbolizes divinity
characteristics of Roman imperial portraiture
implication of personality through expression
heavy influence from Greece
known as Bust of Hadrian
from Roman civilization
imperial portrait
depics Hadrian with beard
known as Portrait of Antinous
from Roman civilization
imperial portrait
known as Equestrian Portrait of Marcus Aurelius
from Roman civilization
imperial portrait
falsely believed to be Constantine (otherwise would have been destroyed by Christians)
last equestrian statue made for 1200 years
known as Colossal Bust of Constantine or Colossus of Constantine
from Roman civilization
imperial portrait
super huge
has weird-ass lizard eyes
known as Trajan’s Column
from Roman civilization
narrative relief (length of 2 football fields if unraveled)
mausoleum for Trajan family
paint has worn off (slightly evident in cracks)
Borowicz likes Column of Marcus Aurelius better
known as Triumphal Arch of Constantine
from Roman civilization
covered with narrative reliefs (stolen from other triumphal arches)
memorializes Battle of Milvian Bridge
known as Ara Pacis
from Roman civilization
animal style
name can be translated to “altar of peace” (Latin)
dedicated to Caesar’s family
known as Alexander Mosaic
from Roman civilization
culture contact with Greece (depiction of Alexander the Great and copy of Hellenistic painting)
floor mosaic found in Pompeii (in House of the Faun)
known as Still Life with Jar and Peaches or Peaches and Glass Jar
from Roman civilization
fresco
very realistic
feels like a shelf
known as Villa of Mysteries or Scenes of a Dionysiac Mystery Cult
from Roman civilization
culture contact with Greece (depicts religious ceremony dedicated to Dionysus)
villa-house of wealthy family
known as Book of Kells
from Medieval era
illuminated manuscript
religion forbade drawing anything that casts shadow
really intricate
known as Lindisfarne Gospels
from Medieval era
illuminated manuscript
depicts interwoven snakes
located in British Library in London
known as Bayeux Tapestry
from Medieval era
like 120 feet long (only small section is shown)
used for insulation
Borowicz thinks it sucks
only studied because it retells Norman conquest of England in 1066
known as Unicorn Tapestry
from Medieval era
blood was believed to make people live forever
unicorn horn represents penis
known as Reliquary of Saint James
from Medieval era
located in Spain
pilgrimage site
Borowicz ain’t so sure it’s really Saint James’s bones
known as Sutton Hoo Purse Cover
from Medieval era
animal style
assembled from different sources
known as Oseburg Prow or Animal Head from the Oseburg Ship Burial
from Medieval era
animal style
originally located on bow of Viking ship
known as Gero Crucifix
from Medieval era
compassionate view of Christ
inspired by Middle Byzantine art
- Central Plan Churches*
- Basilican Plan Churches*
from Medieval era
circular
known as Sta. Apollinare in Classe
from Medieval era
similar to Roman churches (use of arches and vaults)
heavy use of mosaics on interior
known as Saint Sernin
from Medieval era
has vault across church
looks like crucifix from
known as Pisa Cathedral
from Medieval era
leaning tower
has 3 vaults
