Europe has always been one of the centers for art.

From the earliest civilizations art has been collected and in displayed in such institutions as The Louvre. Over hundreds of years artists have been contributing to their era by way of writings, paintings, sculptures, and music. Some pieces of artwork, though, cannot be stored in a museum. Some pieces of artwork, like architecture, are natural displays. In the Classical Greek period the Parthenon was one of the largest structures to be built. Created by Perikles around between 448/447 and 438 or 432 b.c.e. this display of architecture stood in the Acropolis. It is the prime example of Greek architecture. It was created with the purpose of glorifying Athena. It is decorated with many different exterior sculptures, including one created in the image of Athena herself. The Doric columns are just one detail of the overall Golden Section design. There are no straight lines in the design whose width is larger than its height. Each detail exemplified the designs of the Classical Greek era. The Greeks during this time were focused on balance and order. They idealized subjects, such as the gods. Even the sculptures within the Parthenon are of their own categories. They are testament to the gods, and to the idealism of the Classical Greek period. The architecture of the classical period was important to the development of the cities. The Acropolis was an important center for the Greeks. The buildings that were a part of the Acropolis had their own purposes. They were built with great care to not only demonstrate the capabilities of the Greeks, but the details were specific so as to complete the purpose of the building. The Greek gods were focal point and thus the Parthenon was built to honor one of the gods.

During the Hellenistic Greek period the focus turned from the ideal to the real. Artists focused on individuals and the emotions of those individuals. This period began after the death of Alexander the Great. Being one of the greatest tragedies all his own, Alexander was not the only individual displayed in art that depicted tragedy. Another such tragedy that was sculpted is Lacoon and His Sons. No one is certain when this sculpture was created. It is possible the piece came to life around 150 b.c.e. but that is up for debate. The priest in the sculpture is seen with his sons. The three were strangled by snakes sent by Apollo as punishment to Lacoon. His story is one that is stems from Homers Iliad. After trying to warn the Trojans of the infamous Trojan horse that was given them by the Greeks, Apollo punished Lacoon and his sons. The sculpture of Lacoon and his sons is made of marble and stands seven feet tall. The piece is a nod to the dramatic flare that art had in the Hellenistic period versus the classical period that was slightly devoid of emotion. Before the Hellenistic period there were many battles to gain control of the Greek mainland. After the passing of Alexander the Great the competition began for his spot. The time was a very dramatic one, and this was reflected in the art created via the poses and themes of the pieces of art. Pieces reflected a more natural tone. There were many transitions occurring as a direct effect of Alexanders reign. New cultures were introduced because of Alexanders conquests abroad. Traditional ideals were seemingly ceasing to exist. It was a period that was quite different from the Golden Age of Greece. The Greeks and the Romans were groups who contributed many great things to the world of art. However, they were not the only group during that period of time to contribute. There was another group in Europe who was also able to impact the world of

art called the Etruscans. Considered natives of Italy, not much is known about this group. Their language seemed to be based on the Greek alphabet, but many pieces of literature were undecipherable. Just as the Greeks had done, the Etruscans used their architecture to create structures that would have important purposes. One of the structures they created was a tomb. The tombs not only were home to the deceased but to their most valued worldly possessions. Many tombs included gold, art, and even weapons. Many of these tombs were robbed because of what they contained. Two types of tombs were created, one of which was a rock-cut tomb. The most famous of this type was created on an ancient site called Cerveteri. This type of tomb is typically used as the final resting place for families. The Tomb of Reliefs in Cerveteri was designed to house forty members. The interior of the tomb reflects the home of the family. The paintings that are on the walls in the tombs offer a glimpse into the daily lives the family members led. They indicate what methods were used for food, fighting, and even convey the level of energy the Etruscans possessed. The tombs can be the most revealing of the art in that time. Since the language was not able to reveal as much about the culture at the time the tombs are able to show how they Etruscans lived. In the Roman Republic literature was one of the forms of art that was the most informative pieces of art. The Romans were not afraid to put their ideas on display. The bigger the display the better seemed to be the theme of the time. This is similar to the Greeks but more specifically of the Hellenistic period where the individual was on display. The art of the Roman Republic focused on people, places, and time. Just as with any other period there were many interactions among the people. In the time of the

Republic there were two classes: the patricians and the plebians. Once again the issue was dominance, and who was in control of decisions. Amidst the struggle for equality Catallus, a Roman poet, used his language to display human emotion at its strongest. His writing style is said to reflect everyday life of the Romans. Catallus used racy colloquial style to write about love. He wrote a series of poems about a love affair he had with Lesbia. Just as with other stories of the time she was the center of competition for two men. Catallus wrote of his love for her, but this was not the only emotion he displayed. From racy to lovelorn, to grief, Catallus also wrote of the loss of his brother. During the Roman Republic capturing who the individual was during their life was of great importance. The Romans created imagines to re-create the human being buried. Similar to the deathmasks, Catallus poems also were able to capture his own emotion and put it on display for all to see. At the height of their success the Romans were experiencing great power as they dominated almost two millions miles of land and fifty million people. The art of the time reflected so much of this history. The overall thinking of the time reflected Greek idealism with Roman realism. Paintings were just one of the forms the Romans used. However, not many of the paintings exist today. Painted on ivory, stone, or wood the small paintings had four styles. Most now exist specifically in the form of murals. The ones that were painted in homes were preserved after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 c.e. in Pompeii and Herculaneum. One of the styles, the Second Style, originated around 80 b.c.e. and last for about 50 years. The Second Style is also referred to as the architectonic or illusionistic style. Many were painted on surfaces that already had color the paintings.

One such painting that is considered Second Style is the cubiculum from the Villa at Boscoreale. It is a bedroom scene in the home of Publius Fannius Synistor. The illusions of the painting suggest open spacing and extended dimensions. It is also suggested that the painting reflects what was considered architecture of the time. The fantasy that the painting creates is the idea that whoever the Roman might be could escape into another place inside the room. No matter the interpretation the Romans delighted in fooling the eye of the beholder. What appears to be three dimensional is really just two. Publius Fannius Synistor may have had many reasons for having this mural painted in his home. It could have been painted to create his own escape, or to offer one for his guests. With the ability to fool the viewer at the very least the painting can impress, which is a truly Roman concept.

References: Rebold Benton, J., & DiYanni, R. (1998). Arts and Culture: An Introduction to Humanities. Upper Saddle River , New Jersey: Pearson Education.