Art History Before 1450
Instructor: Roberta A. Mayer, Ph.D.  

Etruscan Art 700-280 B.C.
Study Guide 8


Etruscan, Fibula with Orientalizing Lions, ca. 650-640 B.C.E.

Etruscan, Interior of the Tomb of the Reliefs, 3rd century B.C.E.

Etruscan, Tomb of Leopards, “Banqueters and musicians,” ca. 480-470 B.C.E.

Etruscan, Sarcophagus with Reclining Couple from Cerveteri, ca. 520 B.C.E.

Model of Typical Etruscan Temple of the 6th century B.C.E., based on Vitruvius

Etruscan, Apollo of Veii, ca. 510-500 B.C.E.

Etruscan, Capitoline Wolf (with additions by Italian Renaissance artist, Antoinio Pollaiuolo), ca. 500-480 B.C.E.

Vocabulary

Etruria
chimera
necropolis
fibula
tufa
terracotta
sarcophagus
granulation
repousse

Practice Essay Questions

  • What is tufa, and what effect did it have upon the construction of Etruscan tombs?

  • In what ways does the Etruscan temple differ from the Greek temple?

  • The Etruscans excelled in creating objects in what medium? What kind of objects did they make?

  • To what culture did the Etruscans eventually fall and why?

  • Why are no major buildings left from the Etruscan culture?

  • What is the general mood of paintings on earlier Etruscan tombs?

  • What kinds of objects have been found in Etruscan tombs?

  • What do Etruscan tombs tell us about the Etruscans' lives?

  • How did artistic conventions from Greece influence Etruscan art?

  • Discuss the use of indigenous material in Etruscan art, that is, clay, iron, silver, gold, and so forth.

  • Discuss Etruscan tomb and temple architecture. How does it compare to previous architecture studied in this course?