Etruscan and Roman Art Overview

The art created by the Etruscans, a civilization in northern Italy, known for beautiful wall paintings and statues.

Underground chambers that held Etruscan art and served as a representation of Etruscan life.

The Roman Empire's gradual conquest and absorption of Etruscan cities.

Etruscans' culture loss as a result of the Roman takeover after the 5th century BCE.

The belief that death was a continuation of life, as represented by the design of their tombs.

A significant Etruscan tomb decorated with leopards, reflecting guardian figures in ancient traditions.

Common materials that Etruscan artists worked with.

Etruscan cemeteries designed like underground settlements with connected tombs.

A gathering where Etruscan men and women dined together, reflecting a distinctive social custom unlike the all-male Greek banquets.

The color of skin in Etruscan art often followed a convention, with men depicted as dark-skinned and women as light-skinned.

In Etruscan art, an egg held by a man symbolizes regeneration or rebirth.

Characterized by exaggerated gestures, often with unnaturally enlarged hands.

Etruscan banquets were typically joyful celebrations, reflecting the Etruscans' appreciation for life.

An earthen mound constructed over Etruscan underground tombs, often used for multiple generations within a family.

The Etruscan city of the dead, located outside the city of the living.

The technique of the Etruscan tumuli (mounds) shares similarities with the rock-cut tombs of ancient Egypt, such as Amenemhet's tomb at Beni Hasan.

Greeks used stone for temples but rarely built monumental tombs for their dead, unlike the Etruscans. This shows their contrasting values.

Roman art focused on realism, portraying subjects realistically, including their flaws, in sculptures and portraits.

Under Augustus, Roman realism took an idealistic turn, where art was used to portray rulers as godlike and powerful.

During the Roman Republic, veristic (superrealistic) portraits of older, powerful men were common, capturing their individual features.

Roman portraits became idealized under Augustus, showing him as perfect and godlike, serving as propaganda for his reign.

Idealized Roman art often served as propaganda, promoting Augustus' power and image as a divine ruler.

A Roman statue depicting Augustus as a youthful and confident general, embodying Roman values and imperial power.

A style in Roman art emphasizing idealized beauty, strength, and virtue, often modeled after Greek statues.

A style of Roman art emphasizing the accurate depiction of life, objects, and scenes, using intuitive perspective to create depth.

A technique in painting used to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality by making objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance.

A technique in painting used to create the illusion of distance and depth by making objects appear fainter, bluer, and less detailed as they recede into the distance.

A type of art made using small, colored stones, pebbles, or glass to create images that are durable and long-lasting.

Roman architecture borrowed elements from both Greek and Etruscan traditions, combining their strengths to create impressive buildings.

Roman artists drew inspiration from both Greek and Etruscan traditions for their paintings, sculptures, and buildings, creating a unique blend of styles.

The architectural style developed by the ancient Romans, known for its use of concrete, arches, and domes, and its blend of Greek and Etruscan influences.

Roman architecture borrowed elements from Greek architecture, such as the use of columns and architectural orders like the Ionic order, which are often found in Roman temples.

Roman architecture also borrowed elements from the Etruscans, such as the use of a high podium and a flight of steps at the front of temples, which are not found in Greek temples.

The Romans developed concrete construction, which revolutionized architectural design, allowing for larger, more complex structures, and the use of arches and domes.

Roman concrete was cheaper and more versatile than traditional building materials. It was used to build arches, domes, and huge rooms without internal supports.

Roman builders mixed concrete using a blend of lime, volcanic ash, water, and small stones (called caementa in Latin).

The Romans poured the concrete mix into wooden frames and allowed it to harden. After the concrete dried, the frames were removed, revealing a solid, strong structure.

In Roman Concrete, the specific proportions of ingredients varied depending on the intended use. Smaller stones, added to the mix, provided strength, while the lime and ash reacted with water to bind the mixture.