Augustan Art

March 13, 2013

Augustan Age: 27 BCE-14 CE

! Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BCE which was followed by more civil war with people struggling to gain sole power ! Battle of Actium in 31 BCE: Octavian, JCs great-grandnephew and adopted son was the victor over Cleopatra and Mark Antony ! In 27 BCE, the Senate bestowed upon Octavian the name Augustus, or Revered One and he o"cially had complete power ! Roman Republic is o"cially over ! The Roman Empire had o"cially begun and would last until 410 in the west and 1453 in the east

Augustus and Propaganda

! With Augustus, art became closely linked to propaganda ! Art used to promote himself and his ideology ! Staunch supporter of Roman religion, military victory, bringer of Pax Romana (Roman Peace) ! Ties to the gods, connection to the newly deied Julius Caesar, dynastic succession, social policies ! Public vs. Private art ! Is Augustus a god or not?

Augustan Architecture
! Augustus completed many of JCs building projects ! He also initiated his own building projects throughout Rome ! Forum of Augustus with T. of Mars Ultor ! Marmoream relinquo, quam latericiam accepi. - Suetonius (I found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.)

Augustan Architecture
! Also built structures throughout the Roman Empire ! Theaters, aqueducts, temples, fora Res Gestae ! 82 temples

Augustus and Architecture

Augustus continued many of Caesars projects He also began many of his own in Rome (Forum, temples) Marmoream relinquo, quam latericiam accepi: I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble (Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars) Buildings throughout the empire Res Gestae

The Roman Forum Curia (Senate Building), Comitium (voting, trials) Via Sacra (Sacred Way) Basilica Aemilia, Basilica Julia: used for civil trials

Imperial Fora (Roman Forum is southwest of these) Forum of Julius Caesar, Forum of Augustus, Forum of Trajan, Forum of Nerva, Temple of Peace (Vespasian)

Imperial Fora (Roman Forum is southwest of these) Forum of Julius Caesar, Forum of Augustus, Forum of Trajan, Forum of Nerva, Temple of Peace (Vespasian)

Imperial Fora (Roman Forum is southwest of these) Forum of Julius Caesar, Forum of Augustus, Forum of Trajan, Forum of Nerva, Temple of Peace (Vespasian)

Forum of Julius Caesar vs. Forum of Augustus Temple of Venus Genetrix, Temple of Mars Ultor Colonnade, Exedra/apses

Forum of Augustus Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger)

Augustus on a chariot (bronze) Exedra lled with sculpture: great men of the past (108 portrait busts) Aeneas, Romulus in center of each (mythical ancestors) Caryatids on the portico

Caryatids from the Forum of Augustus, dedicated 2 BCE Shields

Temple of Mars Ultor

Caryatids from the Erechtheion, Acropolis, 5th c. BCE Golden Age of Athens connection to Augustan Rome

Temple of Mars Ultor

Temple of Mars Ultor

Temple of Mars Ultor Exedra with Romulus and Aeneas

Temple of Mars Ultor, Forum of Augustus, 2 BCE Battle of Philippi, 42 BCE: defeats Cassius and Brutus Octostyle, Corinthian Pediment, acroteria, podium, porch, engaged columns

Temple of Mars Ultor and Temple of Venus Genetrix Filial Piety; Mars was Venus lover; rst international victory over the Parthians

Inside the Temple of Mars Ultor: Venus, Mars, and deied Julius Caesar (Algiers Relief)

How do we know what the Temple originally looked like?

The Temple of Mars Ultor on the Ara Pietatis Augustae, 43 CE Pedimental sculpture: Mars,Venus, and Fortune Left Corner: Romulus and Personication of Palatine Right Corner: Roman and Tiber

Theater of Marcellus, Rome (remains of the Temple of Apollo Sosianus to the right) Campus Martius; travertine Started by Pompey in the late Republic, nished by Augustus Rome, late 1st c. BCE Doric, Ionic, Corinthian pilasters? 41 bays, anked by 42 half columns

Open air 111 meters in diameter 11,000 spectators

Dedicated to Marcellus, Augustus recently deceased grandson

The Romans also built outside of Rome.

Nmes, Southern France (Ancient Gallia Narbonensis)

Maison Carre, Nmes, France, 19 BCE, marble; long square (In the Forum of ancient Gallia Narbonensis)

Maison Carre, Nmes, France, 19 BCE, marble hexastyle temple

Temple of Portunus, Rome Late Republic, based on Etruscan architecture

The Romans are well known for their engineering feats.

Aqueduct: Pont du Gard, near Nmes, late rst century BCE Height: 162, 31 miles long, 44 million gallons of water/day, descends 56 Built by Marcus Agrippa?

Interior of water conduit

Want to take a walk???

Portrait of Augustus as a General, aka Augustus of Primaporta early 1st c. CE copy of a bronze original of 20 BCE

Does this remind you of another sculpture we have seen recently?

Pose Body type Face Idealism

Idealism vs. Verism

Portrait of Augustus as a General, aka Augustus of Primaporta early 1st c. CE copy of a bronze original of 20 BCE

Message so far: Great military leader Powerful orator Body of a Greek athlete Is that all?

Portrait of Augustus as a General, aka Augustus of Primaporta early 1st c. CE copy of a bronze original of 20 BCE

Sky god Sol

Hispania Female barbarian Parthian

Roman: Romulus? Aeneas? Mars?

Apollo

Diana

Tellus (Mother Earth)

Portrait of Augustus as a General, aka Augustus of Primaporta early 1st c. CE copy of a bronze original of 20 BCE

Political Message: Great military leader Powerful orator Body of a Greek athlete Domestic victory Descended from the gods International victory Connection to the gods Conqueror of barbarians Bringer of the Pax Romana

Portrait of Augustus as a priest (Pontifex Maximus) ca. 12 BCE, marble

Roman emperors as Hercules, an athlete, and a soldier (left to right)

Augustus Tomb Complex in the Campus Martius, Rome 13-9 BCE

Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome, late rst century BCE 285 in diameter, 137 high

Reconstruction of the Mausoleum of Augustus Buried inside: Marcus Agrippa, Nero, Gaius and Lucius, Claudius, Livia, and more

Etruscan tumulus tombs at Cerveteri (right)

Augustus Tomb Complex in the Campus Martius, Rome 13-9 BCE

Permanent monument to Augustus greatest accomplishment: Pax Romana Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace), Rome, 13-9 BCE, marble Theme: Peace and its consequences for Italy References to: Dynastic succession, Pax Romana, religious piety, social policies

Tellus Panel, east facade of the Ara Pacis, 13-9 BCE

Permanent monument to Augustus greatest accomplishment: Pax Romana Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace), Rome, 13-9 BCE, marble Theme: Peace and its consequences for Italy References to: Dynastic succession, Pax Romana, religious piety, social policies

Procession of the Imperial family, Ara Pacis Augustae, 13-9 BCE Livia with Gaius and Lucius

Imperial Procession on Ara Pacis vs. Panathenaic Procession on the Parthenon

Dynastic policies, social policies, ceremony honoring Augustus greatest achievement (Pax Romana)

Augustus Horologium (sundial), in the Campus Martius, Rome 13-9 BCE; Res Gestae

Santa Maria Maggiore, Obelisk from the Mausoleum of Augustus

Augustus and the imperial court also commissioned private art.

Cameos
! Private art ! Sardonyx or onyx ! Patron ! Audience ! Political Message

Gemma Augustea, ca 15 CE, sardonyx, 19 x 23 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Augustus

Historical People

Tiberius, Augustus successor

Augustus

Historical People

Germanicus

arms and armor

lituus: Augurs staff

Capricorn

corona civica: civic crown

Augustus

heroic semi-nudity

shield

eagle

throne

scepter

Roma

Victory

Oikoumene

Neptune/ Oceanus

Divinities and Personications

Tellus Italiae (cornucopia)

children

Message So Far

Augustus Dominion over the Civilized World

Augustus depictions in public and private art: Is he a god or not?

Scene of captive barbarians and the raising of a trophy by Roman soldiers

Scorpio Trophy

Spears, helmets, Roman soldiers, freed slave, Thracian soldiers, barbarians

What do all of the iconography and gures mean?

Scholars debate over the date, patron, and the meaning of the Gemma Augustea

Dynastic Succession, Pax Romana, and/or Military Successes Victory of Civilization over Barbarianism

Its all about politics and propaganda!