According to ancient legend, Rome was founded in the mid-8th century BC.e.The culture of the Roman Empire, which was considered one of the most influential in antiquity, had an enormous influence on European civilization.This is despite the fact that the painting and sculpture of ancient Rome based on Greek motives, and theater and music are inextricably linked to the Etruscan ancient traditions.
characteristic of Roman art
Unlike other ancient countries, the Romans appropriated the art of educational or moral problems.In contrast, the art of ancient Rome suffered heavy utilitarian character, as it was considered just a way to rationally organize the living space.That is why an important place in the life of the ancient people of this country held the architecture.The civilization of ancient Rome still recalls his monumental buildings: temples, palaces and arenas.
Besides magnificent monuments, the culture of Rome in antiquity can be judged by numerous sculptures, which were the portraits of those who lived at the time.Life in Ancient Rome has always been subject to strict rules, and some periods of sculptural portraits were created solely to perpetuate the memory of the rulers or persons of famous people.Only after a while Roman sculptors began to endow their characters statues or special features.Important historical events Roman creators chose to portray in bas-relief.
It should be noted that the characteristics of the culture of ancient Rome are almost complete absence of such events as theater - in the usual sense, as well as its own mythology.Using images created by the Greeks for many great works of art, the Romans or distorted events in favor of its authorities, or not at all attached great importance to them.This occurred primarily because the art of ancient Rome were influenced by the dominant ideology, which were alien to the abstract and philosophical beginning and fiction.
distinctive features of art of ancient Rome
Despite the proven existence of Rome as a distinct civilization, historians for a long time could not separate the art from the ancient Greek Roman.However, due to the fact that many works of art and architectural heritage of ancient Rome have been preserved to our days, it was possible to identify the main features that are unique to an ancient Roman works.So, what achievements and inventions of ancient Rome in the field of fine arts characterize it as a separate phenomenon?
- architectural achievements of the Romans was the combination of buildings and spatial perception of art forms.Roman architects chose to build individual buildings and ensembles in natural depressions, and if there were none, was surrounded by walls in small buildings.
- In contrast to the Greek plastic images of Roman art becoming allegory, symbolism and illusory space.These inventions of ancient Rome in relation to the sculptural and artistic images allowed to endow the character not only sculptural portraits, and mosaic or mural image.
- Ancient artists have developed originated in Greece easel painting, which in their homeland was hardly common.
Despite the abundance of delicate and subtle features of the eyes of the layman, there is a factor that allows even non-specialist to determine the membership of sculptural or architectural object to the Roman culture.This is its size.The civilization of ancient Rome is known worldwide for its grand buildings and statues.Their value is several times higher than counterparts from ancient Greece and other countries.
periodization
Art of Ancient Rome developed in several stages, which correspond to the period of the historical development of the state.If the evolution of Greek art historians are divided on the formation (archaic), the heyday of (classical) and crisis (Hellenism), the development of Roman art acquires new features during the changing of the imperial dynasty.Due to the phenomenon that the socio-economic and ideological factors play a fundamental role in changing the stylistic and artistic forms.
stage in the evolution of art in Rome is considered to be the period of the Roman Empire (7-5 century BC. E.), Republican (5-1 century BC. E.) And the Roman period (1-2 century BC. E.).This flowering of all the arts, including sculpture, theater, music and art and crafts, came at the end of the 1st century BC.e.and lasted until the fall of the Roman Empire.
Art tsarist period
Formation of Roman art has its roots in the 8th century BC.e., when the main motives in the architecture are planning ways Etruscan buildings, masonry and use of building materials.This can be seen in the temple of Jupiter Capitoline.Painting and manufacturer of decorative items are also closely linked to the Etruscan roots.Only by the middle of the 7th century BC.e., when the Romans colonized Greece, they met with the artistic techniques of the Greeks.It is worth noting that the Roman artists had already tried to create their works as close to the originals.Historians attribute this to the tradition to produce posthumous wax mask that exactly repeated human facial features.The gods of ancient Rome, the statues which were made during the Roman Empire, were depicted as well as ordinary people.
Art republican period
Republican period of the Roman state was marked by the formation of the final architecture: without exception complexes (residential and temple) acquired axial structure and symmetry.The facade of the building signed it more magnificently, and led to the rise of the input (usually stone staircase).In the cities covered by residential development of high-rise buildings, while wealthy segments of the population build suburban terraced houses decorated with frescoes and sculptures.During this period, finally formed types of buildings such as the Roman theater (amphitheater), aqueducts and bridges.
Art portrait sculpture was based on: the official and private.First it served the purpose to perpetuate the statesmen and the second existed thanks to orders for the manufacture of statues and busts for houses and tombs.Public buildings were decorated with bas-reliefs depicting historical scenes or pictures of the daily life of the state.In the temples the most you could see a picture (including mosaics and frescoes), which depicted the gods of ancient Rome.
Roman Empire: the final period of the development of art
period of the Roman Empire is considered to be the time the true heyday of Roman art.The architecture is dominated by the arch, vault and dome.Stone walls everywhere are faced with brick or marble.Large areas in the premises occupied by the decorative paintings and sculptures.Art of Ancient Rome in this period is undergoing significant changes.In the manufacture of sculptural portraits of less focus on individual features, which sometimes look a little sketchy.At the same time the sculptors tried to portray rushing portrayed the emotional state (position of the body, hands and feet, hair and so on. D.).Bas-relief panoramas take shape with a gradually developing story.
Decorative painting, unlike the previous period, it becomes more complicated because of the introduction of landscape and architectural backgrounds.Paints used for murals, brighter, and color combinations - more contrasting.In addition to the color mosaic, widely distributed black and white.
most famous sculptural portraits
Roman portraits of public figures, gods and heroes are represented busts or full-size statues.The earliest ancient Roman portrait is considered to be a bronze bust of Junius Brutus.It felt great influence of Greek art, but typical Roman features and a small asymmetry allow more time to make sure that Roman sculptors had already, in the 3rd century BC.e., it gave his works a maximum of realism.Despite the lack of modern technologies of metal small parts of the bust perfectly executed.First of all, it shows the fine engraving beards and hair.
most realistic yet considered to be a sculptural portrait of Vespasian, the Roman emperor.Master not only in the smallest details conveyed its image, but also endowed bust characteristic features.Particular attention is drawn eyes sunken and small they emit natural cunning and wit of the emperor.But the most remarkable is the fact that the sculptor has depicted, and the smallest details (strained veins and the veins in his neck, crossing the forehead wrinkles), speaking about the strength and determination of the state leader.No less expressive and sculptors have turned bust moneylender Lucia Cecilia Yukunda greedy eyes and greasy hair is depicted with remarkable accuracy.
great monuments of the Roman era
Today completely preserved none of the buildings built in the era of ancient Rome.The most famous and well-known of them is the Colosseum - the arena where gladiators were held and speeches of state leaders of different levels, including emperors.No less it has a colorful history and the Temple of Saturn, which was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt again.His unlike the Coliseum to see the impossible, as the magnificent building only a few columns.But it was possible to save the famous Pantheon, or temple of all the gods, which is a fairly large building, crowned with a dome.
Roman poets and their works
Although borrowed from Greek mythology, the ancient Romans also had their talents and in addition poems, songs and fables.The most famous poets of Rome - Virgil and Horace.First famously wrote the poem "Aeneid", which is very reminiscent of the "Iliad" of Homer.In spite of the less expressive and poetic artistic component, this poem is still considered the standard of native Latin language.Horace, on the contrary, possessed great artistic expression, so was the court poet, and lines from his poems and songs still appear in the works of many writers.
Theatre Arts Theatre
Ancient Rome was originally a little resembled what today we think so.Almost all submissions were in the genre competition of poets and musicians.Only occasionally Roman art lovers can enjoy a game of actors, accompanied by a large choir.Often, the audience demonstrated circus, theater, mime and solo or group dances.A distinctive feature of the Roman theater performance troupe are numerous.On this occasion the audience said that they were less than the actors.
It should be noted that the costumes and makeup did not pay special attention.Only sometimes, playing the role of the emperor or a significant person in the state, actors dressed in a lush red dress.The repertoire consisted mainly of works of Roman poets Horace, Virgil and Ovid.Often unhurried narration and singing in theaters were replaced by the bloody gladiator fights, which the audience went with no less pleasure.
Music and musical instruments
Music of Ancient Rome was formed independently of the Greek.At public events and presentations The most popular musical instruments, capable of producing very loud pipes, horns and the like.However, most often during the execution of preferred stringed instruments: timpani, harp, cittern.It is worth noting that the music carried away everything, including the Roman emperors.There were musicians and singers among those who perpetuated in sculpture.The most popular and love of the Roman people at that time used the singers and Kifared Apelles, Terpny, Diodorus, Anaksenor, Tigelly and Mesomed.Music of Ancient Rome is still alive, because preserved not only the main theme, but also musical instruments.
Influence of Roman art in the modern
On the influence of Roman civilization in the modern talk a lot and everywhere.Of course, characteristic of ancient Rome, or rather that of his region, which refers to the art, there is still not presented in full.Nevertheless, we can already say that the architecture, sculpture and visual arts of the Roman era directly influenced the cultural component of almost all European countries.This is particularly evident in the architecture, where harmony and majesty of the building is enclosed in a clear symmetrical form.
