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

Imperial Roman Art
Study Guide 10

Early Empire 31 B.C. - 96 A.D.

Early Empire, Portrait of Augustus as general, from Primaporta, Italy, original ca. 20 B.C.E.

 

Early Empire, Ara Pacis Augustae, 13-9 B.C.E.

Early Empire, Female personification from the east facade of the Ara Pacis, 13-9 B.C.E.

Early Empire, Procession of the imperial family, detail of the south frieze, 13-9 B.C.E.

Early Empire, Maison Carree, Nimes, France, 1-10

Early Empire, Pont-du-Gard, Nimes, France, 16 B.C.E.
 

High Empire  96 A.D. - 192 A.D.

Flavian dynasty, Colosseum, Rome, 70-80

Flavian dynasty, Portrait bust of a Flavian woman, 90
 

Flavian dynasty, Arch of Titus, Rome, after 81

Flavian dynasty, Spoils of Jerusalem, relief panel from the Arch of Titus, after 81

Flavian dynasty, Triumph of Titus, relief panel from the Arch of Titus, after 81

High Empire, Column of Trajan, 112

High Empire, Pantheon, 118-125

High Empire, Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175

Late Empire 192-400 A.D.

Late Empire, Four Tetrarchs, ca. 305

Late Empire, Arch of Constantine, Rome, 312-315

Late Empire, Distribution of largess, detail from the Arch of Constantine, 312-315

 
Late Empire, Portrait of Constantine, ca. 315-330
 

Vocabulary

Ara Pacis
Arch of Titus
coffering
Colosseum
Constantine
Diocletian
Marcus Aurelius
oculus
Pax Romana
Tetrarchs
Trajan

Practice Essay Questions

  • How did the political situation in third century A.D. Rome differ from that of the first century A.D., and what effect did that have on art?

  • Discuss the role of the Roman emperors as patrons of the arts.

  • Discuss the contributions of Diocletian.