Historians of ancient Roman art, as a rule, associated its development only with the changes of imperial dynasties. Therefore, it is important to determine the boundaries of its formation, flourishing and crisis in the development of Roman art, taking into account changes in artistic and stylistic forms in their connection with socio-economic, historical, religious, religious, and everyday factors. If we outline the main stages in the history of ancient Roman art, then in general terms they can be represented as ancient (VIII - V centuries BC) and republican (V century BC - I century BC) .) epochs.

The heyday of Roman art falls on the I-II centuries. n. e. Within the framework of this stage, the stylistic features of the monuments make it possible to distinguish between the early period: the time of Augustus, the first period: the years of the reign of Julio-Claudian and Flavius; second: the time of Trajan and early Hadrian; late period: the time of the late Hadrian and the last Antonines. From the end of the reign of Septimius Severus, the crisis of Roman art begins.

Having begun to conquer the world, the Romans got acquainted with new ways of decorating houses and temples. Roman sculpture continued the traditions of the Hellenic masters. They, like the Greeks, could not imagine the design of their home, city, squares and temples without it.

But in the works of the ancient Romans, unlike the Greeks, symbolism and allegory prevailed. The plastic images of the Hellenes among the Romans gave way to picturesque ones, in which the illusory nature of space and forms prevailed.

According to legend, the first sculptors in Rome appeared under Tarquinius Proud, that is, during the period of the most ancient era. In ancient Rome, sculpture was limited primarily to historical relief and portraiture.

In Rome, a copper image was first made by Ceres (the goddess of fertility and agriculture) at the beginning of the 5th century. BC e. From the images of the gods, it spread to a variety of statues and reproductions of people.

Images of people were usually made only for some brilliant deed worthy of perpetuation, at first for victory in sacred competitions, especially in Olympia, where it was customary to dedicate the statues of all the winners, and with a triple victory - statues with a reproduction of their appearance, which are called iconic by Pliny the Elder. Natural science about art. Moscow - 1994. p. 57.

From the 4th century BC e. begin to erect statues of Roman magistrates and private individuals. Mass production of statues did not contribute to the creation of truly artistic works.

Masters not only transferred to sculptural images individual characteristics, but made it possible to feel the tension of the harsh era of wars of conquest, civil unrest, uninterrupted anxiety and unrest. In the portraits, the sculptor's attention was drawn to the beauty of the volumes, the strength of the skeleton, and the backbone of the plastic image.

In the years of August I - II centuries. portrait painters paid less attention to the unique features of the face, smoothed out individual originality, emphasizing in it something common, characteristic of everyone, likening one subject to another, according to the type pleasing to the emperor. A typical standard was created. The dominant aesthetic and conceptual idea that permeated the Roman sculpture of this time was the idea of the greatness of Rome, the power of imperial power.

At this time, more than before, women's and children's portraits were created, which were rare before. These were images of the wife and daughter of the princeps. The heirs to the throne appeared in marble and bronze busts and statues of boys. Many wealthy Romans installed such statues in their homes to emphasize their disposition to the ruling family.

Also, from the time of the “divine Augustus”, images of chariots appeared with statues of victors harnessed by six horses or elephants by Pliny the Elder. Natural science about art. Moscow - 1994. p. 58.

At the time of the Julio-Claudians and the Flavians, monumental sculpture strove for concreteness. Masters even gave the deities the individual features of the emperor.

The style of imperial portraits was also imitated by private ones. Generals, wealthy freedmen, usurers tried to resemble the rulers in everything; sculptors gave pride to the landing of heads, and decisiveness to turns, without softening the sharp, not always attractive features of the individual appearance.

The heyday of Roman art falls on the reign of the Antonines, Trajan (98-117) and Hadrian (117-138).

In the portraits of this period, two stages can be distinguished: Trayan's, characterized by an inclination towards republican principles, and Adrian's, in the plasticity of which there is more adherence to Greek models. Classicism, even under Hadrian, was only a mask under which the proper Roman attitude to form developed. The emperors acted in the guise of generals chained in armor, in the pose of sacrificial priests, in the form of naked gods, heroes or warriors.

Also, the idea of the greatness of Rome was embodied in various sculptural forms, primarily in the form of relief compositions depicting scenes of military campaigns of emperors, popular myths, where gods and heroes, the patrons of Rome, acted. Most outstanding monuments such a relief was the frieze of Trajan's column and the column of Marcus Aurelius Kumanetsky K. History of culture Ancient Greece and Rome: Per. from the floor - M.: Higher school, 1990. p. 290.

The late heyday of Roman art, which lasted until the end of the 2nd century, was characterized by the extinction of pathos and pomposity in artistic forms. Masters of that era used various, often expensive materials for portraits: gold and silver, rock crystal, and glass.

Since that time, the main thing for the masters was a realistic portrait. The development of the Roman individual portrait was influenced by the custom of removing wax masks from the dead. The masters sought a portrait resemblance to the original - the statue was supposed to glorify this person and his descendants, so it was important that the depicted face was not confused with someone else.

The plastic realism of the Roman masters reached its peak in the 1st century BC. BC BC, giving rise to such masterpieces as marble portraits of Pompey and Caesar. The triumphant Roman realism is based on the perfect Hellenic technique, which made it possible to express in facial features many shades of the hero's character, his virtues and vices. In Pompeii, in his frozen wide fleshy face with a short upturned nose, narrow eyes and deep and long wrinkles on a low forehead, the artist sought to reflect not the momentary mood of the hero, but his inherent characteristic properties: ambition and even vanity, strength and at that at the same time, some indecision, a tendency to hesitate Kumanetsky K. History of culture of Ancient Greece and Rome: Per. from the floor - M.: Higher school, 1990. p. 264.

In the round sculpture, an official direction is formed, which from different angles are portraits of the emperor, his family, ancestors, gods and heroes patronizing him; most of them are made in the traditions of classicism. Sometimes the portraits showed features of genuine realism. Along with the traditional plots of gods and emperors, the number of images of ordinary people increased.

Two stages can be distinguished in the development of late Roman art. The first is the art of the end of the principate (3rd century) and the second is the art of the era of domination (from the beginning of the reign of Diocletian to the fall of the Roman Empire).

From the end of the 3rd century BC e., thanks to the conquests, Greek sculpture begins to have a great influence on Roman sculpture. When plundering Greek cities, the Romans capture a large number of sculptures; there is a demand for their copies. In Rome, a school of neo-Attic sculpture arose, which produced these copies. On the soil of Italy, the original religious significance of archaic images was forgotten. Kobylina M. M. The role of tradition in Greek art. With. thirty.

An abundant influx of Greek masterpieces and mass copying retarded the flourishing of their own Roman sculpture.

In the works of sculpture of the era of the dominant (IV century). Pagan and Christian subjects coexisted. Artists turned to the image of not only mythological, but also Christian heroes. Continuing what began in the III century. praising the emperors and members of their families, they prepared the atmosphere of unbridled panegyrics and the cult of worship, characteristic of the Byzantine court ceremonial. Face modeling gradually ceased to occupy portrait painters. The material of portrait painters became less and less warm and translucent from the surface of marble, more and more often they chose to depict faces less similar to the qualities human body basalt or porphyry.

The greatest cultural and archaeological heritage of the Eternal City, woven from different historical eras, makes Rome unique. In the capital of Italy, an incredible amount of works of art has been collected - real masterpieces known throughout the world, behind which are the names of great talents. In this article we want to talk about the most famous sculptures in Rome, which are definitely worth seeing.

For many centuries, Rome has been the center of world art. Since ancient times, masterpieces of creations of human hands have been brought to the capital of the Empire. During the Renaissance, pontiffs, cardinals and representatives of the nobility built palaces and churches, decorating them with beautiful frescoes, paintings and sculptures. Many newly erected buildings from this period have donated new life architectural and decorative elements of antiquity - ancient columns, capitals, marble friezes and sculptures were taken from the buildings of the times of the Empire, restored and installed in a new place. In addition, the Renaissance gave Rome an endless number of new brilliant creations, including the work of Michelangelo, Canova, Bernini and many other talented sculptors. You can read about the most outstanding works of art and their creators on the page

Sleeping hermaphrodite

Capitoline she-wolf

The most significant for the Romans is the "Capitoline she-wolf", stored today in the Capitoline Museums. According to the legend that tells about the founding of Rome, she was raised by a she-wolf at the Capitoline Hill.

Capitoline she-wolf

It is generally accepted that the bronze statue was made by the Etruscans in the 5th century BC. However, modern researchers are inclined to assume that the She-Wolf was made much later - during the Middle Ages, and the figures of the twins were added in the second half of the 15th century. Their authorship has not been established for certain. Most likely they were created by Antonio del Pollaiolo.

Laocoön and sons

The famous sculptural group depicting the scene of the struggle of Laocoön and his sons with snakes, supposedly adorned the private villa of Emperor Titus. Dated circa Ic. BC, it is a marble Roman copy made by unknown craftsmen from an ancient Greek bronze original, which, unfortunately, has not survived. One of the most famous sculptures in Rome is located in the Pio Clementine Museum, which is part of.

The statue was discovered at the beginning of the 16th century in the territory of the vineyards located on the hill of Oppio, which belonged to a certain Felice de Fredis. In the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, on the tombstone of Felice, you can see an inscription telling about this fact. Michelangelo Buonarroti and Giuliano da Sangallo were invited to the excavations, who were to evaluate the find.

Accidentally found sculpture produced at that time strongest resonance, influencing the development of art throughout Italy during the Renaissance. The incredible dynamism and plasticity of the forms of the antique work inspired many masters of that time, such as Michelangelo, Titian, El Greco, Andrea del Sarto, and others.

Sculptures by Michelangelo

The famous sculptor, architect, artist and poet was recognized as the greatest master during his lifetime. Only a few sculptures by Michelangelo Buonarroti can be seen in Rome, as most of his works are in Florence and Bologna. In the Vatican, in, it is stored. Michelangelo sculpted a masterpiece when he was only 24 years old. In addition, Pieta is the only hand-signed work of the master.

Another famous work by Michelangelo Buonarroti can be admired in the Cathedral of San Pietro in Vincoli. There is a monumental tombstone of Pope Julius II, the creation of which stretched over four decades. Despite the fact that the original project of the funeral monument was never fully implemented, its main figure, the one decorating the monument, makes a strong impression and looks so realistic that it fully conveys the character and mood of the biblical character.

Sculptures by Lorenzo Bernini

Bernini. Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. Fragment

Sensual marble figures with graceful soft forms and special sophistication amaze with their virtuoso performance: the cold stone looks warm and soft, and the characters of the sculptural compositions are alive.

Among the most famous works of Bernini, which are definitely worth seeing with your own eyes, the first place on our list is occupied by the “Abduction of Proserpina” and “Apollo and Daphne”, which make up the collection of the Borghese Gallery. .

Apollo and Daphne

Another masterpiece by Bernini, The Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, deserves special attention. The famous sculpture, created as a funeral monument at the request of Cardinal Paluzzi, depicts the scene of religious ecstasy by Ludovica Albertoni, who lived at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The sculptural group adorns the Altieri Chapel, located in the Basilica of San Francesco a Ripa in the Trastevere area.

Until the 20th century, the history of ancient sculpture was built in chronological order - first Greece (the heyday of art in the 5th-4th centuries BC), then Rome (the peak of the rise in the 1st-2nd centuries AD). Art (Roma) was considered a late expression of Greek cultural traditions, the completion of the creativity of the period of antiquity.

After the publication of works by art historians Ranuccio Bianchi-Bandinelli and Otto Brendel, antiquities recognized Roman art as an original and unique phenomenon. Sculpture of ancient Rome came to be seen as a school of classical craftsmanship whose history has yet to be written.

In the 8th century BC e. Ancient Roman masters pushed off the traditions of the Hellenic sculptors and began to master independent creativity.

The history of ancient Roman art is divided into four stages:

The oldest era (VIII-V centuries BC)
Republican era, the period of formation (V - I centuries BC)
Rise of Roman imperial art (1st - 2nd centuries AD)
The era of crisis (III - IV centuries AD)

The origins of ancient Roman sculpture are the art of the Italics and Etruscans, who created original cultural monuments. The most famous artifact is the warrior from Capestrano (Guerriero di Capestrano).

Sculptors of the most ancient era created portrait images, stone bas-reliefs, which differed from Greek works by an average quality of execution.

Temple terracotta sculpture with decorative and cult functions was developed. Large statues of gods appeared, exceeding the size of Greek statues. In 1916 on the territory ancient city Etruscan Veii (Veii) found magnificent terracotta statues of Apollo, Hermes, Venus, which were created for the exterior decoration of the temple of Apollo (550 - 520 BC).

Features of ancient Roman sculpture

The authors of scientific studies (Oscar Waldgauer, Grant Michael, V.D. Blavatsky) believe that the sculpture of ancient Rome cannot be called a blind imitation of Hellenic images, because. cultural monuments are distinguished by features characteristic of each era of development.

Roman masters departed from the traditions of Greek sculptors and did not create images of an ideal person. Individuality runs through the entire history of the Roman portrait, which is based on the religious custom of creating death masks.

The patricians had the right to keep the image of the deceased ancestor in their houses. The more portraits, the more noble the family. This explains the characteristic features of Roman sculpture: realism, concreteness, knowledge of facial expressions and muscles of the face.

The Greek sculptor, inspired by the ideas of humanism, sang of his gods in marble in the image of a perfect human body. Ancient Roman craftsmen preferred to work with stone, clay and bronze. Their gods had an unpredictable character, instilled fear of becoming a victim of anger higher powers. The sculpture is dominated by allegory and symbolism. Only in the 1st century BC. Rome began to use marble.

The works are distinguished by emotional coldness and detachment. Open plastic Greek sculptures the image of a Roman who covered his head with a hem of clothing while praying is contrasted.

Hellenic masters saw the type of person: an athlete, a philosopher, a commander. Roman sculptors created portraits in the spirit of extreme naturalism, concretized the qualities of a person's character, his individual characteristics.

To the Greek examples of plastic art (statue, herme), the sculptors of Rome add new form portrait images - bust.

The Greek sculptor associated creativity with poetic myth. The Roman sculptor perceives the world in distinct forms.

Unlike the Greeks, during the period of the Late Republic (264 - 27 BC), the Romans did little in monumental sculpture. Preference was given to bronze figurines of prominent figures and gods.

Resolutions of the Senate regulated the size, material, character of the statue. An equestrian and armored portrait could only be installed in the event of a military triumph. The task of the sculptors was to capture the family, tribal traits, social rank and status of a Roman.

Many works are identified or have an inscription on the pedestal with information about the model, but the names of ancient Roman portrait painters have not survived.

Types and genres

The sculpture of ancient Rome consists of two types:

Relief ("high" - high relief; "low" - bas-relief).
Round sculpture (statue, bust, composition, figurine)

Scientists of the complex science of antiquity identified the main genres of Roman sculpture:

historical;
mythological;
allegorical;
symbolic;
battle;
portrait.

One of the main types visual arts Rome - relief. Masters are inclined to analysis, detailed depiction of images, reliably fix historical events. The front fence of the Altar of Peace in Rome (13-9 BC), the reliefs of the imperial period - the arches of Trajan in Benevento (114-117) are recognized as a masterpiece of the time of the early principate.

Features of the sculpture of the heyday

The change of imperial dynasties influenced the stylistic features of ancient Roman sculpture.

Time of the Principate Augustus

Ancient scholars call the time of reign, nicknamed Augustus (Octavianus Augustus), the "golden age" of the Roman state (27 BC - 14 AD).

Greek sculpture of the classical period with strict forms serves as an example for the ruler in creating a majestic empire. In portrait sculpture, individual features are smoothed out. A typical standard is the general appearance pleasing to the principate.

The established norm is manifested in the portrait busts of Octavian himself, who demanded to portray himself as a young, athletic ruler.

The idealization of the image is clearly visible in the statues installed in the forum, in front of (Panthevm), the Roman temple of Mars the avenger (Tempio di Marte Ultore nel Foro di Roma). In 1863, a two-meter bronze statue was found near Prima Porta, commissioned by the Roman Senate.

August is represented by a majestic descendant of the gods, at whose feet Cupid is located on a dolphin. The relief on the shell tells the people about the victories of the emperor in numerous battles. (Museum Chiaramonti - Museo Chiaramonti - Vatican).

Masters create independent female portraits. For the first time, sculptural images of children appear. Depicted on the left relief of the Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis), the beautiful Goddess of the Earth Tellus (Tellus) holds two babies on her knees, surrounded by figures of well-fed animals.

Art is meant to glorify the prosperity of Rome under the first emperor.

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Time Julius - Claudius (27 - 68 BC) and Flavius (69 - 96 BC)

During the reign of Julius - Claudius and Flavius, monumental sculpture comes to the fore. The chanting of power led the masters to give even the gods the characteristic features of emperors.

For the first time, realism appears in portraits. For example, the statue of Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Augustus Germanicus) consists of two different parts: a head with a realistic depiction of the aging face of the great pontiff and an ideal figure of the Greek god Jupiter.

The appearance of the ruler is shown using three-dimensional modeling: a wide forehead with wrinkles, a flabby face, protruding ears.

The new style replaced the flatness of the individual features of the portrait busts with a realistic depiction of Roman emperors. In marble portraits, paints are used to tint the lips, eyeballs tinted with ivory. In bronze busts, semi-precious stones are inserted into the pupils to add shine to the eyes (portrait of the cunning usurer of Pompeii Caecilius Yukunda).

The genre of the female portrait is developing in two directions: classic and "veristic". Ruthless truthfulness is reflected in the portrait of an elderly Roman woman (Vatican Museums, Gregorian Secular Museum - Museo Gregoriano Profano).

A thin, restless face, a wrinkled forehead, bags under watery eyes speak of impending old age. presented differently female image in a statue of a stranger found at the ancient gates of St. Sebastian (Porta San Sebastiano).

A half-naked Roman woman is depicted by Aphrodite. The woman proudly arched her waist, akimbo, put forward her leg, covered with a fixed cloth. The portrait head of an elderly, imperious Roman woman does not correspond much to the ideal figure of the goddess (Vatican. Capitoline Museums - Musei Capitolini).

Time of Trajan (98-117) and Hadrian (117 - 138)

During the reigns of Emperor Trajan and Hadrian, sculpture continues to express the greatness of the Empire. The use of different forms determined two stages of artistic development: Trajan and Hadrian.

Laocoön and sons

The marble sculptural composition depicts the mortal struggle of Laocoon (Laocoon), the priest of the god Apollo, and his sons with snakes.

The work was created in 50 of the 1st century BC. e., is a copy of a non-preserved bronze monument of Greek sculptors (Pergamon, 200 BC). (Michelangelo Buonarroti), sent by Pope Julius II to evaluate the find, confirmed the authenticity of the work and noted the incredible dynamism and plasticity of the creation of the ancient Roman sculptor. One of the most famous sculptures of ancient Rome is kept in (Museo Pio-Clementino), Vatican.

Earthenware urn from the 6th century BC is an example of the monuments of the funeral cult.

The lid is made in the form of a human head, decorated with a bronze mask (Canopus Chiusi). The Etruscan master tried to preserve the appearance of the deceased: large facial features, a large nose, narrow lips, straight hair traced in clay. Portrait resemblance was the key to otherworldly immortality. The handles of the ritual vessel are made in the form of human hands. The desire to create a reliable image became the basis for the emergence of the Etruscan portrait (Paris, Louvre Museum - Musee du Louvre).

Warrior from Capestrano

Antique statue of the 6th century BC (found in 1934) depicts a calmly standing warrior (Guerriero di Capestrano) of the Piceni tribe.

The author departs from the characteristic example of ancient Greek plasticity - the kouros (statue of a young athlete), taking a step with his left foot. An unknown sculptor, differently than the Greeks, depicts a figure with exaggerated massive hips, broad shoulders, a mask on his face, and a helmet with fields of incredible size. The construction of a three-dimensional form with side columns, gaps between the calves of the legs and the waist convinces that the statue of a warrior on a pedestal belongs to a round sculpture. The ancient artifact is on display at the National Archaeological Museum (Chieti).

Winged terracotta horses

The decor of the temple of Ara della Regina (Dell'Ara della Regina) in Tarquinia was made in the 4th century BC.

The figures of horses, mounted on the pediment of the religious building, arched their necks, spread their wings, and moved with their feet in readiness to carry the divine horseman up. Fairy-tale creatures are close to real images due to muscle tension and nervousness of movements. Winged horses can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia.

Chimera of Arezzo

Chimera from Arezzo (Arezzo), made in the 5th century BC, is considered the pinnacle of ancient bronze casting.

The fantastic figure of a lion with a goat's head and a tail in the form of a snake is an example of symbolism in sculpture. The animal embodies the triune image of the Great Mother of the Gods: the symbol of birth and feeding is the Goat; the symbol of life is the Lion; death − Snake. Found in the 16th century, a bronze sculpture 79 cm high is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Florence (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze).

Head of a sullen man

The head of a gloomy man (“Malvolta”), 16.2 cm high, was made in the second half of the 5th century. BC e.

The impregnable appearance of the sculptural image is given by the eyes, both old and young, and the capricious mouth. Art critics find a striking resemblance of "Malvolta" with the head of St. George sculpture (Donatello), created by the master after millennia. The sculpture found in Veii is kept in the Roman Museum of Villa Giulia (Museo Villa Giulia).

Marble relief from the Altar of Peace of Augustus

Capitoline Brutus

Part of the bronze sculpture (the head of a man), discovered during excavations in Rome in 1564, made a splash with its safety.

Work done in 300 - 275 years. BC, is considered a masterpiece of Etruscan art in terms of the power of expressiveness of the image and the technique of execution. One of the oldest found sculptures supposedly represents a portrait of the founder of the Roman Republic, Lucius Junius Brutus (Lucius Iunius Brutus, Bruto Capitolino). The face seems alive thanks to the inlay with ivory plates and the colored stone inserted into the pupils. The sculptor conveys the character of an outstanding person. A fighter against tyranny does not retreat in the face of difficulties. (Capitoline Museums, Conservative Palace).

Statue of Aulus Metellus

A bronze statue of the orator Aulus Metellus (Arringatore), created around 100 BC, was found in 1566 at the bottom of Lake Trasimene.

The orator, the Roman master Aulus Metellus, stretched out his hand and calls for attention. The portrait image is devoid of idealization, frankly reproduces nature: a stout figure, a wrinkled face, a crooked mouth. The work is the first example of an early Roman portrait. The inscription on the border of the toga tells in whose honor the statue was erected. (National Archaeological Museum, Florence - Museo archeologico nazionale di Firenze).

Statue of Germanicus

Marble sculpture of the end of the 1st century. BC. represents the heroized figure of the Roman general and statesman Germanicus.

The adopted nephew of Tiberius (the second Roman emperor) was a man of rare beauty and courage. At the age of 34, he became a victim of palace intrigues and was poisoned with a slow-acting poison. The eloquent, capable of science commander enjoyed the well-deserved love of the people. An unknown sculptor conveys the youthful grace of the figure and the idealized image of Germanicus, whose death caused universal grief among the Romans. (Paris, Louvre Museum − Musee du Louvre).

In the 15th century, during excavations of the most ancient trading square in Rome (Bull Forum), a gilded bronze sculpture of Hercules was found.

The 241 cm high figure represents the image of the Greek mythological hero Hercules. The work was done in the II century BC. A slender, muscular athlete defeated Kaka, who stole his cows. IN right hand the hero has a lowered club, in the left - the golden apples of the Hesperides. The statue stood in the temple of Hercules the Conqueror, built on the Bull Forum, where cattle were previously sold. (Rome, Capitoline Museums −Musei Capitolini).

Female sculptural portrait of the time of the Flavians

The marble portrait of a young Roman woman (1st century AD) reflects the desire of the wives of emperors, their daughters and noble Roman women to show off beauty and fashion.

A high complex hairstyle, almond-shaped eyes, fluffy eyebrows, a long neck, beautifully defined lips give the image a special poetry. The softening of the appearance by smoothing the surface of the marble was achieved by the sculptor using a drill technique. The work, done in a special artistic manner, is on display at the Capitoline Museums (Musei Capitolini), Rome.

The poetic image of youth and beauty is represented by a marble bust made at the end of the 1st century AD.

The individual features of the young man are emphasized by sad eyes, a strong chin, and a beautifully defined mouth. The sculptor skillfully conveys thick hair, the sparkle of the eyes, the elasticity of the skin, but does not idealize the image. The turn of the head, the flexible neck, the athletic turn of the shoulders correspond to the sculptures of Hellenic art. (London, British museum− British Museum).

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius

The only surviving equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, the last of the five "good emperors" of Rome, was created in the 2nd century BC. AD The monumental, originally gilded, sculpture represents Marcus Aurelius in the form of a thinker, whom his contemporaries called the philosopher on the throne.

The emperor, who does not have a warlike character, is dressed in a tunic, with sandals on his bare legs. The idealized appearance of the ruler was identified in the 15th century by minted coins: thick curly hair, protruding cheekbones, bulging eyes. The monument of antiquity survived because the Christian church took the form of a horseman for Emperor Constantine. (Capitoline Museums - Musei Capitolini - Palace of the Conservatives).

Hermitage collection

The Roman rooms of The State Hermitage Museum display 120 works by ancient masters. There are no copies in one of the best collections in the world. All exhibits are genuine. The sculptures kept the prototypes of images alive and showed the essence of human nature. It is impossible to confuse the soldierly Emperor Philip the Arab (Marcus Iulius Philippus) with the smug co-ruler of Marcus Aurelius, the handsome Lucius Verus.

The halls display not only portraits of emperors and members of their families, but also sculptures of private individuals. The anonymous masters ideally conveyed the belonging of nature to a social type. The curator of the Roman portrait of the Hermitage, candidate of art history A. A. Trofimova calls the bronze bust of an unknown Roman a rare museum exhibit.

The emotional, tragic image of a man with a clever ironic look still causes controversy among experts about the prototype of the hero. Figurines, busts, sculptures of ancient Rome amaze with the variety of plastic forms and richness of characters.

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The main advantage of ancient Roman sculpture is the realism and authenticity of the images. First of all, this is due to the fact that the Romans had a strong ancestral cult, and from the earliest period of Roman history there was a custom to remove death wax masks, which later were taken by sculptors as the basis for sculptural portraits.

The very concept of "ancient Roman art" has a very arbitrary meaning. All Roman sculptors were Greek in origin. In an aesthetic sense, all ancient Roman sculpture is a replica of the Greek one. The innovation was the combination of the Greek desire for harmony and Roman rigidity and the cult of strength.

The history of ancient Roman sculpture is divided into three parts - the art of the Etruscans, the plastic of the era of the Republic and the imperial art.

Etruscan art

Etruscan sculpture was intended to decorate funerary urns. These urns themselves were created in the form of a human body. The realism of the image was considered necessary to maintain order in the world of spirits and people. The works of the ancient Etruscan masters, despite the primitiveness and sketchiness of the images, surprise with the individuality of each image, their character and energy.

Sculpture of the Roman Republic

The sculpture of the times of the Republic is characterized by emotional stinginess, detachment and coldness. There was an impression of a complete isolation of the image. This is due to the exact reproduction of the death mask when creating the sculpture. The situation was somewhat rectified by Greek aesthetics, the canons, according to which the proportions of the human body were calculated.

Numerous reliefs of triumphal columns, temples, which belong to this period, amaze with the elegance of lines and realism. Especially worth mentioning is the bronze sculpture of the "Roman she-wolf". The fundamental legend of Rome, the material embodiment of Roman ideology - this is the significance of this statue in culture. The primitivization of the plot, incorrect proportions, fantasticness, do not in the least prevent one from admiring the dynamics of this work, its special sharpness and temperament.

But the main achievement in the sculpture of this era is a realistic sculptural portrait. Unlike Greece, where creating a portrait, the master somehow subordinated to the laws of harmony and beauty all the individual features of the model, the Roman masters carefully copied all the subtleties of the appearance of the models. On the other hand, this often led to the simplification of images, the roughness of lines and the removal from realism.

Sculpture of the Roman Empire

The task of the art of any empire is to exalt the emperor and the state. Rome is no exception. The Romans of the era of the empire could not imagine their home without sculptures of ancestors, gods and the emperor himself. Therefore, many examples of imperial plastic art have survived to this day.

First of all, the triumphal columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius deserve attention. The columns are decorated with bas-reliefs telling about military campaigns, exploits and trophies. Such reliefs are not only works of art that amaze with the accuracy of images, the multi-figured composition, the harmony of lines and the subtlety of work, they are also priceless historical source, which allows you to restore household and military details of the era of the empire.

The statues of emperors in the forums of Rome are made in a harsh, rude manner. There is no longer a trace of that Greek harmony and beauty that was characteristic of early Roman art. Masters, first of all, had to portray strong and tough rulers. There was also a departure from realism. Roman emperors were portrayed as athletic, tall, despite the fact that rarely any of them had a harmonious physique.

Almost always during the Roman Empire, the sculptures of the gods were depicted with the faces of the ruling emperors, so historians reliably know what the emperors of the largest ancient state looked like.

Despite the fact that Roman art, without any doubt, entered the world treasury of many masterpieces, in its essence it is only a continuation of ancient Greek. The Romans developed ancient art, made it more magnificent, majestic, brighter. On the other hand, it was the Romans who lost the sense of proportion, depth and ideological content of early ancient art.

The most famous sculptures in Rome

The greatest cultural and archaeological heritage of the Eternal City, woven from different historical eras, makes Rome unique. An incredible number of works of art have been collected in the capital of Italy - real masterpieces known throughout the world, behind which are the names of great talents. In this article we want to talk about the most famous sculptures in Rome, which are definitely worth seeing.

For many centuries, Rome has been the center of world art. Since ancient times, masterpieces of creations of human hands have been brought to the capital of the Empire. During the Renaissance, pontiffs, cardinals and representatives of the nobility built palaces and churches, decorating them with beautiful frescoes, paintings and sculptures. Many newly erected buildings of this period gave new life to the architectural and decorative elements of antiquity - ancient columns, capitals, marble friezes and sculptures were taken from the buildings of the times of the Empire, restored and installed in a new place. In addition, the Renaissance gave Rome an endless number of new brilliant creations, including the work of Michelangelo, Canova, Bernini and many other talented sculptors.

Sleeping hermaphrodite

Capitoline she-wolf

The most significant for the Romans is the "Capitoline she-wolf", stored today in the Capitoline Museums. According to the legend about the founding of Rome, the twins Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf near the Capitoline Hill.

It is generally accepted that the bronze statue was made by the Etruscans in the 5th century BC, but modern researchers tend to assume that the She-Wolf was made much later - during the Middle Ages. The figures of twins were added in the second half of the 15th century. Their authorship has not been established for certain. Most likely they were created by Antonio del Pollaiolo.

Laocoön and sons

One of the most famous sculptures Rome is located in the Pio Clementine Museum, part of the Vatican Museums. This work is a marble Roman copy, realized between the 1st century BC. and I century A.D. after a Greek bronze original. The sculptural group depicting the scene of the struggle of Laocoön and his sons with snakes, presumably decorated the private villa of Emperor Titus.

The statue was discovered at the beginning of the 16th century in the territory of the vineyards located on the hill of Oppio, owned by a certain Felice de Fredis. In the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, on the tombstone of Felice, you can see an inscription telling about this fact. Michelangelo Buonarroti and Giuliano da Sangallo were invited to the excavations, who were to evaluate the find.

This sculptural group during the Renaissance produced a strong resonance in the circles of creative people and influenced the development of Renaissance art in Italy. The incredible dynamism and plasticity of the forms of the antique work inspired many masters of that time, such as Michelangelo, Titian, El Greco, Andrea del Sarto, and others.

Sculptures by Michelangelo

The great master of all times, whose name is known to almost everyone - Michelangelo Buonarroti - sculptor, architect, artist and poet. Despite the fact that most of the works of this talented person are in Florence and Bologna, in Rome you can also get acquainted with some of his works. In the Vatican, in St. Peter's Basilica, the world masterpiece of all eras is kept - the sculptural group Pieta by Michelangelo, depicting the Virgin mourning Jesus, who was taken down from the cross after the crucifixion. At the time of the production of this work, the master was only 24 years old. In addition, Pieta is the only hand-signed work of the master.

Pieta

Another work by Buonarroti can be admired in the Cathedral of San Pietro in Vincoli. There is a monumental tombstone of Pope Julius II, the creation of which stretched over four decades. Despite the fact that the original project of the funeral monument was never fully implemented, the main figure that adorns the monument and personifies Moses makes a strong impression.

Moses

The sculpture looks so realistic that it fully conveys the character and mood of the biblical character.

Sculptures by Lorenzo Bernini

Another genius whose name is closely associated with Rome is Jean Lorenzo Bernini. Thanks to his work, the Eternal City acquired a new look. According to the projects of Bernini, palaces and churches were erected, squares and fountains were equipped. Bernini, together with his students, designed the Bridge of the Holy Angel, created an incredible number of sculptures, many of which still adorn the streets of Rome.

Bernini. Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. Fragment

Sensual marble figures with graceful soft forms and special sophistication amaze with their virtuoso performance: the cold stone looks warm and soft, and the characters of the sculptural compositions are alive.

Among the most famous works of Bernini, which are definitely worth seeing with your own eyes, the first place on our list is occupied by the “Abduction of Proserpina” and “Apollo and Daphne”, which make up the collection of the Borghese Gallery. Read more about these works, as well as other masterpieces of the Borghese Gallery.

Apollo and Daphne

The Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, another masterpiece of the Renaissance, deserves special attention. This sculpture, created as a funeral monument at the request of Cardinal Paluzzi, depicts the scene of religious ecstasy by Ludovica Albertoni, who lived at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The sculpture adorns the Altieri Chapel, located in the Basilica of San Francesco a Ripa in the Trastevere area.

Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni

Another similar work is kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria della Vittoria. "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" was sculpted by Lorenzo Bernini by order of the Venetian cardinal at the end of the 17th century. main character works - St. Teresa, immersed in a state of spiritual insight. Nearby, against the background of sparkling golden rays, is the figure of an angel directing an arrow into the languid body of the saint. The plot for the sculptural group was the story described by the Spanish nun Teresa about how in a dream she saw an angel who pierced her womb with an arrow of divine light, which caused her to experience the torment of voluptuousness.

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

Paolina Borghese by sculptor Antonio Canova

Another masterpiece of world significance is the delicate and romantic "Paolina Borghese", made in the first decade of the 19th century in neoclassical style by the famous sculptor Antonio Canova. The sculpture depicting Paolina Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister, was commissioned on the occasion of her marriage to Camillo Borghese, a Roman prince.

The sculptures described in this article are only a tiny part of the many world masterpieces located in Rome, the genius of which is beyond doubt and which is definitely worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

culture ancient rome existed for more than 12 centuries and had its own unique values. In the art of ancient Rome, the veneration of the gods, love for the Fatherland, and soldier's honor were sung. Many reports have been prepared about Ancient Rome, which describe its achievements.

Culture of Ancient Rome

Scientists divide the history of ancient Roman culture into three periods:

Royal (8th-6th centuries BC)
Republican (6th-1st centuries BC)
Imperial (1st century BC - 5th century AD)

The royal period is considered a primitive period in terms of cultural development, however, it was then that the Romans had their own alphabet.

The artistic culture of the Romans was similar to the Hellenic, but had its own characteristics. For example, the sculpture of Ancient Rome acquired emotions. On the faces of the characters, Roman sculptors began to convey the state of mind. Especially numerous were the sculptures of contemporaries - Caesar, Crassus, various gods, ordinary citizens.

In the days of ancient Rome, for the first time such a literary concept like "novel". Among the poets who composed comedies, the most famous was Lucilius, who is the author of poems on everyday topics. His favorite topic was ridiculing the obsession with achieving various riches.

What have we learned?

Speaking briefly about the culture of Ancient Rome, we note that created with a militaristic and majestic orientation, created for centuries, laid the foundation for all future European culture, she left her mark on the development of civilization and was admired by descendants.