Art of the Roman Empire

With the ascent of Augustus to the throne as Emperor, Rome reached new height while seeing a dramatic shift in power with the introduction of an imperial rule with claims of godhood. This early phase of the Empire saw Augustus reinvigorating Rome politically and militarily which resulted in decades of relative peace and prosperity known as the pax romana. This era led to massive building projects throughout the Empire and within Rome itself.

As the Roman Empire expands, new construction techniques are needed to provide infrastructure for a growing populous. The construction of aqueducts, large public works like the Colosseum and temples such as the Pantheon push Roman engineers to expand their use of material and architectural methods. The use of the arch, vaults, dome and related elements allow engineers to build massive public structures. The use of concrete, also, enable Roman builders to construct colossal structures previously impossible. The later years of Roman art sees a shift away from a strong Humanist Greek influence as the Christianization required artists to employ new visual strategies to appeal to a growing Christian population.




CHAPTER 7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

(CO 1) Identify the four major phases of Roman mural painting. (SLO 1, 2, 3)
(CO 2) Explain the way Romans adapted Greek and Etruscan influences in their art and architecture. (SLO 1, 2, 3)
(CO 3) Describe the major differences between Roman Republican portraiture and portraits of the Imperial period. (SLO 1, 2, 3)
(CO 4) Describe the innovations, forms, materials, and construction techniques of Roman architecture. (SLO 1, 2, 3)
(CO 5) Explain the importance of ancestor worship and its influence on Roman art. (SLO 1, 3)
(CO 6) Explain the difference between the two kinds of style present in the later Empire as it pertains to class and religious belief with examples. (SLO 1, 2, 3)




VOCABULARY LIST

This is a list of important vocabulary words for. The definition of many of these words can be found in the glossary of your textbook, Gardner's Art through the Ages. Make sure you are familiar with the meaning of all these words by the end of the chapter.

Opus Incertum
Verism
Veracity
Patrician
Forum
Amphitheater
Pompeii
Herculaneum
Fauces
Atrium
Impluvium
Fresco
Arch
Arcade
Vomitorium