Roman Art: Early Empire

Portrait of Augustus as general, early first century BCE. Fig. 3-1.

Roman Art: Early EmpireExample:• Emperor and pontifex

maximus• Pax Romana• Idealized imperial

portrait molds public opinion

• Orator pose• Cupid for divine lineage

Portrait of Augustus as general, early first century BCE. Fig. 3-1.

Roman Art: Early Empire

Aerial view of the Colosseum, ca. 70-80CE. Fig. 3-28.

Roman Art: Early EmpireExample:• Built to gain public

approval• Concrete barrel-vaulted

skeleton• Arches flanked by

engaged columns and lintel

• Tuscan Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Detail of the façade of the Colosseum,

70-80CE. Fig. 3-29.

Roman Art: High Empire

Apollodorus of Damascus, Forum of Trajan, 112CE. Fig. 3-34.

Roman Art: High EmpireExample:• Trajan enlarges empire• Forum with temple, basilica,

equestrian portrait, market nearby

• Column with Trajan’s victories in spiral narrative

• Nude sculpture of emperor• Monument to Roman military

prowess Column of Trajan, 112CE. Fig. 3-35.

Apollodorus of Damascus, Forum of Trajan, 112CE.

Fig. 3-34.

Roman Art: High Empire

Restored cutaway view of the Pantheon, 118-125CE. Fig. 3-38.

Roman Art: High EmpireExample:• Concrete • Cylindrical drum,

hemispherical• Coffering, oculus• Architecture of space, not

mass• Colonnaded courtyard• Porch with Corinthian

columns and pedimentInterior view.

Fig. 3-35.

Pantheon, 118-125CE. Fig. 3-

38.

Roman Art:

High Empire

Equestrian status of Marcus Aurelius, ca. 175CE. Fig. 3-40.

Roman Art: High EmpireExample:• Equestrian portrait• Superhuman scale• Gesture of greeting and

clemency• Introspective verism• Gilded bronze

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, ca. 175CE. Fig. 3-40.

Roman Art: Late Empire

Basilica Nova (Basilica of Constantine), ca. 306-312CE. Fig. 3-49.

Roman Art: Late EmpireExample:• Empire in decline in late

imperial era• Basilica with colossal

portrait of emperor• Concrete groin vaults• Marble facing inside and

brick outside• Fenestration for light

Basilica Nova (Basilica of Constantine), ca. 306-312CE. Fig. 3-49.

Portrait of Constantine,

ca. 315-330CE. Fig. 3-48.

Roman Art: Late Empire

Arch of Constantine, 312-315CE. Fig. 3-50.