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Date of Award
Winter 1982
Rights
Access perpetually restricted to EWU users with an active EWU NetID
Document Type
Thesis: EWU Only
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA) in Interdisciplinary Studies
Department
Art
Abstract
My introductory comments on the origins of Roman art deal briefly with the major cultural developments by which Roman art came into being. Primarily, how Etruscan traditions were the most dominant molding forces of Roman art, yet, the Etruscans were deeply indebted to the Greeks for initial inspirations. In order to illuminate some of these cultural-historical processes I used several comparisons to other cultures. Greek cultural influences were doubtlessly most instrumental in the shaping of Roman art for many cen-turies. Comparisons to Greek art are therefore a frequent recurrence throughout my thesis, because without Greek fundamentals, Roman art would not have attained the reputation as a most significant art movement of equal standing in the classical world. When searching for origins of Roman art, the estab-lished Etruscan traditions played a very important role. Hence, I devoted a short chapter on the Etruscan roots in Roman culture as well as a chapter on Etruscan art. These include wall painting, terracotta sculpture, and basic architecture, and how the Etruscan approach to Greek inspirations later became the same pattern followed by the Romans. The next two chapters deal with Roman cultural cha-racteristics that brought about their insatiable appetite for art. Systematic looting after successful military campaigns was not able to satisfy such greed. Needless to say, Greek art was most desirable. But new ways had to be found to fill Roman demands for art. Romans were not known as great inventors but rather as incredibly practical people. The use of art as propaganda, however, was mainly an original Roman application, especially in monumental architecture and portrait sculpture. Both media are described from a cultural point of view. I have chosen particularly suitable examples for this purpose as well as illustrations to provide for an even better understanding. In my final comments I want to be sure not to leave the impression that "Roman art" was really not Roman art. On the contrary, Virgil and other Roman scholars were well aware of their Roman characteristics and even admitted that their principle elements for social life which led to their successes were originally invented by the Greeks. The same was true with the pri[n]ciple elements of art. The Romans, however, were clever and skillful. They knew how to change basic concepts to fit their life-style and then use them in their favor. Does this approach to life not strike a familiar chord in all of us?
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Broecker, Walter Emil, "Origins of Roman art" (1982). EWU Masters Thesis Collection. 809.
https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/809
