10-2-14Art History NotesPompeii and the City of Vesuvius Herculaneum: city of around 4-5,000 inhabitants. Provides us with a picture of Roman life. Mt. Vesuvius sent a pyroclastic surge towards the city at about 200 mph. Temperatures were so hot that it boiled people’s brains. Many objects were carbonized and turned into charcoal because of the extreme heat because all the moisture was taken out, these objects did not decay; so we have a snapshot of life right before the eruption occurred. Ash helped preserve the city and the remains of the individuals.Mt. Vesuvius is still active to this day last eruption in 1944.Ash formed a hardened, protective coating around remains and formed a mold, leaving a hollowed air pocket around the remains of the individual. Experts decided to pump plaster into these air pockets, which kept the shape and emotion of the individuals as they were when they were dying. Pompeii gives us perfectly preserved picture of a Roman city.House of the Faun- Beautiful sculptures, marble replicas of Greek bronze sculptures, top luxury Roman villa.- Array of different art objects (sculptures, vases, fountains)- Most prolific form is Mural Paintings- The smaller the room in the villa, the more intimate the conversationo All the rooms were intended for social functions- Cubiculum: private intimate space that could be used as a library or a place for private meetings- Traditional post and lintel architecture found in this villa in the murals.Viewer is invited to walk through the wall  major goal was to make it seem as if there were no walls at all. Wanted to make the murals as life like as possible.- Artist wanted you to get lost in the imagery.- Linear perspective: the idea that parallel lines converge all at one pointImperial art often hearkened back to the classical art of the past (greek art from the Classical and Hellenistic periods). Classicizing elements include the smooth lines, elegant drapery, idealized nude bodies, highly naturalistic forms and balanced proportions, etc.Altar of Augustan Peace, from Rome, Italy, 13-9 BCE, marble frieze with procession of the imperial family and mythological female personification, 5’3” high27 BCE: Augustus= exalted oneRoman Republic to Roman Empire/Imperial RomePax Romana= Roman PeaceAugustan Peace leads to the urbanization of all of Western EuropeRoman architecture was built to last to eternityThe Coliseum was built from the profits of war, and through the sacking of Jerusalem. - Elliptical in plan- Built with the intention to get in and out as quickly as possible all about the events that were taking place inside.- Wonderful example of Roman engineering- Marble finish on the inside- Use of concrete, travertine, brick and tufa as well (array of different mediums)- All of the niches were at one time filled with sculpture- Niches were in shape of an arch. Architect combined Roman arches with Greek columns in this building- Doric, Ionic and Corinthian column types all found- Where you sat in the Coliseum represented your importance in society. o People did not socialize with those outside of their class (very structured class system)- 3 levels of arches framed by Greek columns- in very poor condition today, but in its prime it would have been used for very lavish, expensive spectacle- fit the same amount of people as Turner Field can- animals were imported (polar bears, lions, tigers) and it was arranged that they would rise up from the floor into the arena where humans would fight them.Arch of Emperor Titus, Rome, Italy, ca. after 81 CE, marble revetment of brick and concrete core, 50’ high, relief panels with spoils of Jerusalem and triumph of Emperor Titus, 7’10” high Flavian Amphitheater, so-called “Colosseum,” Rome, ca. 70-80 CE, limestone and concrete construction with marble revetment, 157’ high- triumphal arch= in roman architecture, a freestanding arch commemorating an important event, such as a military victory or the opening of a new road- about 50 feet high- located in a prized location- brick and poured concrete, faced with marble.- Example of an early arch because there is only one entry way- Engaged column= a half round column attached to a wallo Call “engaged” because they are embedded to the wallo Decorative, no function- Columns are elaborate (ionic and Corinthian)- Barrel vault: a deep arch or an uninterrupted series of arches, one behind the other, over an oblong space.- Spandrel= area between the arch’s curve and the framing columns and entablatureo Represent the personification of the Goddess of Victoryo The arch celebrates the victories of Titus- Inscription states that Titus is “divine”- Apotheosis= elevated to the rank of gods, or the ascent to heaven (Titus pictures on an eagle being lifted to the heavens)o Idea that once an emperor died, he became a god This was a very controversial idea; some believed and some didn’t- One frieze depicts the triumphal process following a victory in Jerusalemo Depicts an army carrying the booty they have won (men carrying a Menorah back)o This victory in Jerusalem is what prompted the “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalemo Low relief figures and high relief figureso Sense of movement and dramaFasces: a bundle of rods with an ax attached, representing an emblem of authority in ancient