1

Roman Empire, 500 BCE – 350 ACE

Architecture- concrete had been previously invented, but the Romans used it to create new architectural forms. Ribbed ceiling support enabled them to build large, domed temples.

Roman temples began as modest places of worship, but as Christianity spread and grew, the basilica form of design used in the meeting place was adapted to churches to accommodate growing numbers of worshippers inside.

Roman columns were adapted from the Greek Corinthian form, with a base added. Sometimes they were attached to the wall creating “engaged” columns.

Arches commonly used between columns. Niches with rounded tops were created for the display of sculpture.

2

Colosseum, Rome, Italy70-80 A.D

3

The Roman Architectural Revolution

4

Pantheon, Rome, Italy. 118-125 AD

5

Roman Sculpture* Romans greatly admired Greek sculpture and copied it. Most of our visual information about Greek sculpture comes from Roman copies.

* Romans had their own sculptural tradition. It was based on realism; Romans attempted to be accurate about their society and their history.

* Most Roman sculpture is portraits, often of their emperors. This was political!! By putting a sculpture of the Emperor in the civic square of each city, every Roman citizen knew what his leader looked like.

Questions to Consider: Why would it be beneficial for every citizen to know how the emperor looked?Why would citizens need a portrait to recognize the emperor?How could the portraits be used to affect/alter public opinion?

Roman Portraits

How does this figure compare to the Greek sculptures we’ve looked at?

Roman patrician125 ADMarble

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

This head is part of a seated figure that was 40 feet high. What do you think this emperor statue portrayed to it’s citizens?

Constantine the Great330 ADMarble

125 AD70 AD 118 AD 330 AD

Rome

Often copied Greeks

Concrete revolutionized building = ribbedceilings, ARCHES, and domed temples

Expansive temples as Christianity spread

Public works- churches, Colosseums

Realism in portraiture - often political

Roman Art REVIEW

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTcxODc4Njk1NA/web