Fresco from the Villa of the Mysteries. Pompeii, 80 BC

Roman fresco from Boscoreale, 43-30 BCE, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Roman art includes the visual arts produced in Ancient Rome, and in the territories of the Roman empire. Major forms of Roman art are architecture, painting, sculpture and mosaic work. Metal-work, coin-die and gem engraving, ivory carvings, figurine glass, pottery, and book illustrations are considered to be 'minor' forms of Roman artwork. ^[1] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x2322, 652 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Roman art ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x2322, 652 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Roman art ... The Villa of the Mysteries or Villa dei Misteri is a well preserved ruin of a Roman Villa which lies some 800 metres north-west of Pompeii. ... For other uses, see Pompeii (disambiguation). ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC - 80s BC - 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC Years: 85 BC 84 BC 83 BC 82 BC 81 BC - 80 BC - 79 BC 78 BC 77... Boscoreale is a modern comune of Campania in the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio under the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, known for the fruit and vineyards of Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio. ... Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Elevation The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as the Met, is one of the worlds largest and most important art museums. ... Arts of the ancient world refers to the many types of art that were in the cultures of ancient societies, such as those of ancient China, India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome // The earliest figurine the Venus of Tan-Tan discovered to date originated somewhere between 500,000 and 300... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Ancient Egyptian art refers to the style of painting, sculpture, crafts and architecture developed by the civilization in the lower Nile Valley from c. ... Mesopotamia was a cradle of civilization geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... By far the greatest collection of Scythian gold is preserved at the Hermitage Museum. ... Map showing the extent of the Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ... Muiredacha Cross. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Image:San Juan de Baños . ... The art of ancient Greece has exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries from ancient times until the present, particularly in the areas of sculpture and architecture. ... The art of the Hellenistic period has long been the victim of the relative disdain attached to the period. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... For other uses , see Painting (disambiguation). ... Sculptor redirects here. ... This article is about a decorative art. ... Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create parts or structures. ... Look up gem in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ivory carving is the process whereby ivory is ornamented with any design, by means of sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or manually. ...

General Style

In Romans art, observation of nature was of key importance; as in, for example, their portrait sculptures which are usually meticulously detailed and realistic. Portraits of Roman emperors were often used for propaganda purposes and included ideological messages in the pose, accoutrements, or costume of the figure. The Romans also depicted warriors and heroic adventures, in the spirit of the Greeks who came before them. While Greek sculptors traditionally illustrated military exploits through the use of mythological allegory, the Romans used a more documentary mode. Roman reliefs of battle scenes like those on the Column of Trajan are useful for the first-hand representation of military costumes, and military equipment. Another major contribution of Roman art is the use of concrete in architecture. Buildings like the Pantheon, Flavian Amphitheater or Colosseum could never have been constructed with previous materials. Trajans Column is a monument in Rome raised in honour of the Roman emperor Trajan and constructed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. ... Look up Pantheon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy The Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater (lat. ... The Colosseum by night: exterior view of the best-preserved section. ...

While the traditional view of Roman artists is that they often borrowed from, and copied Greek precedents (much of the Greek sculpture we know of today is in the form of Roman marble copies), more recent analysis as indicated that Roman art is a highly creative pastiche of Greek, Etruscan, native Italic, and even Egyptian visual culture. Stylistic eclecticism is the hallmark of much of Roman art.

Painting

Pompeian painter with painted statue and framed painting Pompeii

Our knowledge of Ancient Rome painting relies in large part on the preservation of artifacts from Pompeii and Herculanum, and particularly the Pompeian mural painting, which was preserved after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. AD. Nothing remains of the Greek paintings imported to Rome during the 4th and 5th centuries, or of the painting on wood done in Italy during that period. Pliny explicitly states^[2](XXXV, 36) around 69-79 AD that the only true painting was painting on wood and that this had nearly disappeared by his time, to the benefit of the muralists, which was more indicative of the wealth of the owners than their artistic tastes. Download high resolution version (718x726, 172 KB)Pompeii painter with painted statue and framed painting File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (718x726, 172 KB)Pompeii painter with painted statue and framed painting File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Pompeii (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pompeii (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pompeii (disambiguation). ... For the Italian commune, see Ercolano Herculaneum (in modern Italian formerly Resina, but since 1969 Ercolano) was an ancient Roman town, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mount Vesuvius (Italian: Monte Vesuvio) is a volcano east of Naples, Italy, located at 40°49′N 14°26′ E. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland, although it is not currently erupting. ... This article is about the year 79. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19th Century portrait. ... For other uses, see 69 (disambiguation). ... This article is about the year 79. ... Salle des illustres, ceiling painting, by Jean André Rixens. ...

Variety of subjects

Boscotrecase Villa , Pompeii. Second style

Roman painting provides a wide variety of themes: animals, still life, and scenes from everyday life. During the Hellenistic period, it evoked the pleasures of the countryside and represented scenes of shepherds, herds, rustic temples, rural mountainous landscapes and country houses. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x2377, 537 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Roman art ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x2377, 537 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Roman art ... Country Italy Region Campania Province Province of Naples (NA) Mayor Elevation 86 m Area 7. ... For other uses, see Pompeii (disambiguation). ...

Innovations

The main innovation of Roman painting compared to Greek art was the development of landscapes, in particular incorporating techniques of perspective. The art of the ancient East would have known the landscape only in terms of civil or military scenes.^[3] This theory, defended by Franz Wickhoff, is debatable. It is possible to see evidence of Greek knowledge of landscape portrayal in Plato's Critias (107b-108b): Portrait of Wickhoff. ... Critias, a dialogue of Platos, speaks about a variety of subjects. ...

"...and if we look at the portraiture of divine and of human bodies as executed by painters, in respect of the ease or difficulty with which they succeed in imitating their subjects in the opinion of onlookers, we shall notice in the first place that as regards the earth and mountains and rivers and woods and the whole of heaven, with the things that exist and move therein, we are content if a man is able to represent them with even a small degree of likeness..."^[4]

Periods

Roman mural painting is generally distinguished by four periods, as originally described by the German archaeologist August Mau and dealt with in more detail at Pompeian Styles. August Mau (1840-1909) was a prominent German art historian and archeologist who worked with the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut while studying and classifying the Roman paintings at Pompeii, which was destroyed with the town of Herculaneum by volcanic eruption in 79 AD. The paintings were in remarkably good condition... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Triumphal paintings

From the 3rd century BC, a specific genre known as Triumphal Paintings appeared, as indicated by Pliny^[2] (XXXV, 22). These were paintings which showed triumphal entries after military victories, represented episodes from the war, and conquered regions and cities. Summary maps were drawn to highlight key points of the campaign. Josephus describes the painting executed on the occasion of Vespasian and Titus's sack of Jerusalem: The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period. ... A fanciful representation of Flavius Josephus, in an engraving in William Whistons translation of his works Josephus (37 – sometime after 100 CE),[1] who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus,[2] was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and... Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... For other uses, see Titus (disambiguation). ... The Destruction of Jerusalem (specifically, the Second Destruction of Jerusalem) was the culmination of the successful campaign of Titus Flavius against Judea after an unsuccessful attack four years prior by Cestius Gallus. ...

"There was also wrought gold and ivory fastened about them all; and many resemblances of the war, and those in several ways, and variety of contrivances, affording a most lively portraiture of itself. For there was to be seen a happy country laid waste, and entire squadrons of enemies slain; while some of them ran away, and some were carried into captivity; with walls of great altitude and magnitude overthrown and ruined by machines; with the strongest fortifications taken, and the walls of most populous cities upon the tops of hills seized on, and an army pouring itself within the walls; as also every place full of slaughter, and supplications of the enemies, when they were no longer able to lift up their hands in way of opposition. Fire also sent upon temples was here represented, and houses overthrown, and falling upon their owners: rivers also, after they came out of a large and melancholy desert, ran down, not into a land cultivated, nor as drink for men, or for cattle, but through a land still on fire upon every side; for the Jews related that such a thing they haundergone during this war. Now the workmanship of these representations was so magnificent and lively in the construction of the things, that it exhibited what had been done to such as did not see it, as if they had been there really present. On the top of every one of these pageants was placed the commander of the city that was taken, and the manner wherein he was taken."^[5]

These paintings have disappeared, but they likely influenced the composition of the historical reliefs carved on military sarcophagi, the Arch of Titus, and Trajan's Column. This evidence underscores the significance of landscape painting, which sometimes tended towards being perspective plans. The Etruscan Sarcophagus of the Spouses, at the National Etruscan Museum. ... The Arch of Titus This article deals with the main arch of Titus on the Via Sacra. ... Trajans Column is a monument in Rome raised by Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Senate. ...

Ranuccio also describes the oldest painting to be found in Rome, in a tomb on the Esquiline Hill: Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli (b. ... The Esquiline Hill is one of the famous seven hills of Rome. ...

"It describes a historical scene, on a clear background, painted in four superimposed sections. Several people are identified, such Marcus Fannius and Marcus Fabius. These are larger than the other figures...In the second zone, to the left, is a city encircled with crenellated walls, in front of which is a large warrior equipped with an oval buckler and a feathered helmet; near him is a man in a short tunic, armed with a spear...Around these two are smaller soldiers in short tunics, armed with spears...In the lower zone a battle is taking place, where a warrior with oval buckler and a feathered helmet is shown larger than the others, whose weapons allow to assume that these are probably Samnites.

This episode is difficult to pinpoint. One of Ranuccio's hypotheses is that it refers to a victory of the consul Fabius Maximus Rullianus during the second war against Samnites in 326 BC. The presentation of the figures with sizes proportional to their importance is typically Roman, and finds itself in plebeian reliefs. This painting is in the infancy of triumphal painting, and would have been accomplished by the beginning of the 3rd century BC to decorate the tomb. Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus (or Rullus), son of Marcus, of the patrician Fabii of ancient Rome, was five times consul and a hero of the Samnite Wars. ... Samnite warriors Samnium (Oscan Safinim) was a region of the southern Apennines in Italy that was home to the Samnites, a group of Sabellic tribes that controlled the area from about 600 BC to about 290 BC. Samnium was delimited by Latium in the north, by Lucania in the south... The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period. ...

Panel paintings

The Severan Tondo, a panel painting of the imperial family, circa 200 AD

Depiction of a woman with a ringlet hairstyle. Royal Museum of Scotland.

In Greece and Rome, wall painting was not considered as high art. The most prestigious form of art besides sculpture was panel painting, ie tempera or encaustic painting on wooden panels. Since wood is a perishable material, only very few examples of such paintings have survived, namely the Severan Tondo from circa 200 AD, and the well-known Fayum mummy portraits. The portraits were attached to burial mummies at the face, from which almost all have now been detached. They usually depict a single person, showing the head, or head and upper chest, viewed frontally. The background is always monochrome, sometimes with decorative elements. In terms of artistic tradition, the images clearly derive more from Graeco-Roman traditions than Egyptian ones. They are remarkably realistic and may indicate the similar art which was widespread elsewhere, but for reasons of the dry climate where they were found, have fortunately survived. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1069x1087, 1311 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Alexander Severus Septimius Severus Caracalla Publius Septimius Geta Severan Tondo ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1069x1087, 1311 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Alexander Severus Septimius Severus Caracalla Publius Septimius Geta Severan Tondo ... Download high resolution version (723x1216, 194 KB)Large version of portrait for Gallery of Fayum mummy portraits. ... Download high resolution version (723x1216, 194 KB)Large version of portrait for Gallery of Fayum mummy portraits. ... The main hall of The Royal Museum of Scotland The Royal Museum of Scotland is a museum on Chambers Street, in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, interior view, 1432. ... A 1367 tempera on wood by Niccolò Semitecolo. ... A 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherines Monastery, Mount Sinai. ... Severan Tondo, tondo of the Severan family, with portraits of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla, and Geta. ... Portrait of a young woman, A.D. 110–20 Encaustic on wood; 43. ...

Sculpture

Main article: Roman sculpture

Bust of Antinous, c. 130 AD

Traditional Roman sculpture is divided into five categories: portraiture, historical relief, funerary reliefs, sarcophogai, and copies.^[6] Roman sculpture was heavily influenced by Greek examples, in particular their bronzes. It is only thanks to some Roman examples that we know of Greek originals which have since been lost. Another example of this is at the British Museum, where an intact 2nd century AD Roman copy of a statue of Venus is displayed, while a similar original 500 BC Greek statue at the Louvre is missing her arms. Contrary to the belief of early archaeologists, many of their sculptures were large polychrome terra-cotta images, such as the Apollo of Veii (Villa Givlia, Rome), but the painted surface of many of them has worn away with time. Romans were nearly unique in the mixtures of materials (e.g. marble and porphyry) used both for painting and sculptures themselves, largely due to cost. Sarcophagus with battle scene between Romans and Germans. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x772, 92 KB) Description For an old picture of the same, in b/w, see below: Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Antinous Roman art Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x772, 92 KB) Description For an old picture of the same, in b/w, see below: Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Antinous Roman art Metadata... Antinous or Antinoös (Greek: ) born circa 110 or 111 CE, died 130 CE), was the lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian Bust of Antinous in the Palazzo Altemps museum in Rome // He was born to a Greek family in Bithynion-Claudiopolis, in the Roman province of Bithynia in what... Kouros of the Archaic period, Thebes Archaeological Museum The sculpture of Ancient Greece is by far the most important surviving form of Ancient Greek art, although only a small fragment of Greek sculptural output has survived. ... Bronze figurine, found at Öland Bronze is the traditional name for a broad range of alloys of copper. ... London museum | name = British Museum | image = British Museum from NE 2. ... This article is about the museum. ... Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. ... Sculpture of Hanuman in terra cotta. ... For other uses, see Marble (disambiguation). ... Porphyry (Greek Πορφύριος purple-clad) may refer to: Porphyry of Tyros (c. ...

Detail of the Antonine column. Drawn by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc

Historical reliefs are represented by Trajan's column, a triumphal work which records the various Dacian wars conducted by Trajan in what is modern day Roumania. The monumental work is remarkable for the detail shown of the many activities conducted by the army. Image File history File links Detail. ... Image File history File links Detail. ... Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (January 27, 1814 – September 17, 1879) was a French architect and theorist, famous for his restorations of medieval buildings. ... Trajans Column is a monument in Rome raised by Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Senate. ... Combatants Dacians Roman Empire Commanders Decebal Trajan Strength around 100,000 (based on population estimate) 70,000-80,000 Casualties Unknown Unknown The Dacian Wars (101-102, 105-106) were two short wars between the Roman Empire and Dacia during Emperor Trajans rule. ... This article is about the Roman Emperor. ... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

While inspired by the Greeks, Romans also developed some of their own innovations, such as the bust and the democratization of the portrait. Many contemporary sculptures are described and discussed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia published in 77 AD. The work is one of the very few places which discusses Roman art in detail, so is an inestimable source of the period. Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19th Century portrait. ... Naturalis Historia Pliny the Elders Natural History is an encyclopedia written by Pliny the Elder. ...

Architecture

Main article: Roman architecture

Aqueduct of Segovia

Roman architecture is outstandingly notable for the durability of its construction; with many buildings still standing, and some still in use. The Roman use of the arch, and their improvements in the use of concrete building methods, their use of the dome which permitted construction of vaulted ceilings and enabled huge covered public spaces such as the public baths and basilicas, later served as inspirational models for architects of the Italian Renaissance, such as Brunelleschi. The Romans based much of their architecture on the dome, with outstanding examples such as the Pantheon, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla. Roman aqueducts were commonplace in the empire, and the standing remains are especially impressive such as the Pont du Gard and the aqueduct of Segovia. ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1217 KB) Description: Aqueduct City: Segovia Country : Spain Photographer: © Manuel González Olaechea y Franco Shot date : March 21th, 2004 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1217 KB) Description: Aqueduct City: Segovia Country : Spain Photographer: © Manuel González Olaechea y Franco Shot date : March 21th, 2004 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed... For other uses, see Arch (disambiguation). ... This article is about the construction material. ... For other uses, see Dome (disambiguation). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Basilica of St. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Dome (disambiguation). ... Look up Pantheon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, built in the tepidarium of the baths The church of San Bernardo alle Terme recycled an old circular tower at the southwestern corner of the perimeter wall of the baths, one of four towers defining its grounds. ... The Baths of Caracalla, in 2003 The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between 212 and 216 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla. ... Pont du Gard, France, a Roman era aqueduct circa 19 BC. It is one of Frances top tourist attractions at over 1. ... The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct in the south of France constructed by the Roman Empire, and located near Remoulins, in the Gard département. ... The Aqueduct of Segovia (or more precisely, the aqueduct bridge) is one of the most significant and best-preserved monuments left by the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula. ...

See also

• Latin literature
• Naturalis Historia
• Pliny the Elder
• Roman architecture
• Roman music
• Roman sculpture
• Erotic art in Pompeii and Herculaneum

Latin literature, the body of written works in the Latin language, remains an enduring legacy of the culture of ancient Rome. ... Naturalis Historia Pliny the Elders Natural History is an encyclopedia written by Pliny the Elder. ... Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19th Century portrait. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Romans did not give a great place for music, and they did not invent it themselves. ... Sarcophagus with battle scene between Romans and Germans. ... Prehistoric erotic art The pre-historic era doesnt have much information available, taking in to account the kind of communication humans used to have. ...

Notes and references

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich, OM, CBE (30 March 1909 – 3 November 2001) was an Austrian-born art historian, who spent most of his working life in the United Kingdom. ... Critias, a dialogue of Platos, speaks about a variety of subjects. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the science of classifying living things, see alpha taxonomy. ...

External links

• Ancient Rome Art History Resources

Sources

• Benton, Janetta Rebold and DiYanni, Robert. Arts and Culture. Volume 1. Prentice-Hall, 1998. New Jersey, United States.
• Kleiner, Fred S. A History of Roman Art. Thompson Wadsworth, 2007. Belmont, CA.
• Marceau, Jo. Art: A World History. DK Publishing, 1998. New York, New York.
• Montverdi, Mario. The Book of Art. Volume 1: The Origins of Western Art. Grolier 1967. Milan, Italy.
• Nuttgens, Patrick. The World's Great Architecture. Excalibur, 1981. New York, New York.
• Turner, Jane. The Dictionary of Art. Volumes 26 and 27. Macmillan, 2002. Hong Kong.