Roman and Christian Art

Arch of Constantine-

The Arch of Constantine is located next to the Colosseum. This was built to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge. The arch is 21 meters high and 25.9 meters wide with three archways.  It is said that parts have been reused. These reused items visually transferred the old Roman virtues of strength, courage, and piety. Four Corinthian style pillars divide the layout of this arch.  There are many reliefs across this entire arch. Some represent victory and others represent hunting and sacrificing. One of the main parts of this arch is the frieze running around the monument under the round panel, which depicts scenes from the campaign of Constantine against Maxentius. 

 

Church of Santa Costanza- 

Central plan is the Roman building with vertical axes served as models for Christian tombs, martyrs’ churches, and baptizers.  It was a church built in Rome under Constantine I. It was a place of burial for his daughters Constantina and Helena.  This building is of a circular structure measuring 29 meters in diameter with twelve pairs of columns.  It is decorated in marble and mosaics. The mosaics represent both pagan and early Christian origin.

The Early Roman style reflected elements by the Etruscan and the Greeks. The development of proportional human figures became the new way of painting. A lot of Roman art was through their architecture while Christian art was through religious paintings. Many Christian painting included images of Jesus and narrative scenes of Christ's life. This religious hierarchy came about when the Western Roman Empire's political structure collapsed after the Fall of Rome. Like Roman Art, Christian art styles of representation was entirely drawn form wealthier Pagans. Before the edict of Milan, Christian art was restricted to the decoration of hidden places of worship.  Most of the early religious artist derived from Roman art but chose to reject the ideals of perfection in form and technique.

Parthenon Project

The Parthenon was dedicated to Athena. She was the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill. She is the protector of civilized like artesian activities and agriculture. She brought to mankind grace and beauty, desire, art but toil, intellect but guile, and deceit. Pollitt states “ Athena was the embodiment of Athenian intellectual and cultural attainment.” (98) Once Athena became protector of Athens, temples were dedicated to he at Acropolis as well as Argus, Megara, Sparta and others. Her temples were places of refuge  as well as worship for her citizens and were considered major political centers.

The vividly painted frieze on the Parthenon has no figures alike. The relief itself is carved deeper on the top because it is viewed from a very steep angle.  The Procession of the frieze is generally thought to be a religious procession in honor of Athena. Pollitt ‘s states that the frieze is thought to represent the great procession, which formed part of the Panathenaea, the Athenian festival in honor of Athena (85). The West Frieze is the organization of the procession near the Dipylon Gate, the North and South friezes are the procession toward Acropolis and the East frieze is the final stages of the celebration of the gods. The Frieze begins on the west side of the temple. It runs eastward parallel on both north and south sides. The two sides merge together to a religious ceremony witnessed by a group of deities.

At the beginning of the West frieze, it begins with a group of horsemen mounting up on their horse.  It continues to the men riding their horses with control. Ahead of the riders are the chariots rode by the drivers and men in armor. There are then a group of older men and musicians. At the head of the procession there are the people who are of sacrificial rites such as the pitcher bearers, tray bearers, and care takers for the sacrificial victims.

On the East frieze is a sacred rite that is taking place in the center.  There is a man and his assistant folding a large cloth along with a woman who is receiving two folding chairs from assistants. Twelve seated deities, who were thought to be the twelve Olympian gods, surround them.