Roman Art vs Christian Art

The Imperial Procession is a detailed relief located on the south side of Ara Pacis Augustae, know today as Alter of Augustan Peace. Ara Pacis, as a whole, was commemorated to Augustus’ triumphal return to Rome after establishing Roman rule in Gaul and Hispania. The south side of the alter is an example of the realism in Roman art. Augustus, priests, and the imperial family walks in double lines as they would have in this particular procession. The people in the detailed relief are recognizable people of that day in age, and are participating in a specific event known in that time. The feet of the figures in the relief project from the architectural groundline, so the viewer feels that the procession is real. The rest of the alter presents Augustus in different ways. He is depicted as a speaker, a peacemaker, a civic leader, etc. it is much like seeing picture of a President of the U.S. in suit and tie during a speech, and then in jeans and a t-shirt participating in a service project. This method of portrayal was very common in Roman art.

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is an example of Christian art. Junius Bassus was a Roman official that had been baptized and died very young. The front of this panel is divided into ten spaces where ten different depictions of the Bible are sculpted. The detail in the architecture (columns) used to separate each scene suggests an earthly setting for the scenes. Jesus is depicted as a teacher/philosopher in the upper middle space. It is in this space that the pagan past of the Romans is referenced by Jesus standing on the head of Aeolus, the classical god of the winds. Since Aeolus personified the skies, it is thought that Christ is sitting in heaven in this scene. Another picture is of Jesus riding into Jerusalem in triumph on a donkey. Artwork like Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus was created to untie the imagery of the Old Testament of the Bible with the New Testament. Abraham is shown in one of the spaces right after he passed the test of God’s faith by being willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Some say that this is a foreshadowing of God’s sacrifice of Jesus Christ. David is also shown after he is saved from the lion’s den. This is thought to be a preview of Christ’s resurrection. The story of Adam and Eve the story of Job, parts of the crucifixion including Pontius Pilot, and the story of Paul being arrested are on the piece as well. Each story has an enormous impact on Christianity, so it was important for the Christians to portray this to people.

The goal of a lot of Roman art was to show respect to a specific leader of the time. In order to do this, the actual leader was incorporated into the art somehow. There were statues of specific leaders built, towers made in honor of them, etc. the point was for the people to be able to distinguish the leaders in the art. The art depicted victories, accomplishments, and historical and current events of the time. This is very obviously happening in The Imperial Procession. Figures can be recognized, as they were meant to, and they are participating in a procession that would have happened in the time period it was built. Christian art, on the other hand, did not necessarily depict people from current times. Although the viewer was meant to be able to pick out each character in the art, they were not the leaders of the time. Christian art portrayed stories from the bible to better teach people about Christianity. The art was used as a way to initiate the worship of God, not man. Iconography was largely used in Christian art. Christians adopted symbols from pagan traditions, but also created their own. Depictions of stories from the Old Testament of the Bible were many times used as foreshadowing of the stories in the New Testament in art. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is a very good example of this. One can identify the figures in each scene by what is happening in the scene. Although they are recognizable people, they are only this way because that is the way people knew them. They are not leaders of the current time. They are not victorious in war. They are not participating in a common meeting, or procession in time; they are depicting what happens in the Bible.


For some reason my blog does not allow me to post pictures. It used to, but it no longer does. To see an image of The imperial Procession go here: http://www.westcler.org/gh/curlessmatt/arthistory/6/AraPacisImperialProcession.jpg

To see a picture of Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus go here: http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/arth212images/early_christian/sculpture/junius_bassus.jpg

Parthenon Project

The metopes are a very interesting element of the Parthenon. Because of their size, they can sometimes go unnoticed. Nonetheless the metopes should be considered a marvel because by “numbering 92 in all, they were by far the most extensive cycle of metopes ever put together in Doric architecture” (18). The metopes tell the story of the centaur and the Greeks. The centaur was to represent to negative and barbaric qualities in humans, while the Greeks represented the positive and heroic qualities in humans. It was a battle of good versus evil when the drunken centaurs came into the banquet hall with a sexual agenda and took away the Greek’s women. This is the only story that is represented in the Parthenon in which the Greeks do not come out on top. The Classical Period was a time in realizing the constant struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil, and the metopes assist in getting that point across.

...i found this to be the most interesting story dictated on the Parthenon, partly because I find it to be truth.

Psykter

The Psykter vase was a vase for cooling wine. it is a red-figure vase that depicts young, nude athletes practicing with their trainers. Each name of the athletes is inscribed, and some also have more of a description abut them. Oltos was the artist of this vase. He was an active potter in Greece from 525-500 bc. He put his signature on the 2 kylikes. OLtos made the figures skillfully so they would still look upright even with the curve of the vase. The trainers are bearded and wearing mantles with fold and zigzag edges, which is normal for Oltos' vessels. He is called a master in the relief line, and it can be proven with this Psykter vase.

Prezi

http://prezi.com/30hvlce-yfdi/copy-of-art-history-egypt-today/

Native American Art

http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-art.html

I am quite interested in Native American culture, so when i stumbled upon this article i decided to read it. It is about the different forms of art Native Americans takE part in. Art is just as important as music in their culture. Art was created to be a symbol just as a eagle or a bear is a symbol in Native American culture. Rocks, clay, fabric, feathers, etc. are examples of materials used to create in the Native American culture. They are known for a lot of basket weaving. The baskets not only serve as a form of art, but also as a tool in life. The people would die the fabric and weave the baskets into beautiful tribal patterns and colors, but then be able to carry their vegetables around in them as well. Another form of art that was also a useful tool were blankets. The Navajo are very well known for their blanket weaving. Not only would blankets show off the beautiful art, but also be used for keeping people warm when it became cold. But that is not all. The Native Americans also carves shapes such as walruses out of whale teeth. This art was meant for decoration. Finally, totem poles were forms of art that the Native Americans created. These well-known structures layer the family line. They are beautiful expressions of self while also displaying the family lineage.
Native American art does not exists just to be looked at. It also serves a purpose in the culture. I think that is an important idea to keep in mind. Is what i am creating or even doing serving a purpose in society and culture? What can I do to better the lives of others?

The Parthenon's Architecture and Power

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/parthenon-and-the-acropolis-landmark-1.jpg

I think that the Parthenon is one of the most interesting structures in Greek history. This building stood for so much in the greek culture. When Athens was attempting to grow as a city and become a political and cultural center, the Parthenon was a building that proved both. In a time of war the structure was a symbol of power, and the fact that it was rebuilt was a sign that Athens could rise again. With the Parthenon in place, Athens was a city to be reckoned with. Eventually, the democracy of Greece was an envied political system that many countries used in order to make peace.
However, it was not only the strong, magnificent largeness of the building that made it so powerful, but also the slight angle of the pillars that gives the building the slight curve that gives off the essence of power. in the Classical period, geometrics were very popular and expected when it came to structures. However, the architect chose not to make the parthenon geometrically perfect, so when a person looks at it expecting the perfect geometry, and something is a bit off, the person has to stare at it longer. As a person sees something when he/she expects another it allows the power of the structure to exists. I find that fascinating.

Downtown Presbyterian Church

The Downtown Presbyterian Church was an interesting experience for me. The historic building was beautiful from the outside, and made me feel small already, so I had a feeling that there would be a similar element when I entered. I was right. Walking into the sanctuary made me shrink. The Pillars were tall and vast, and there were some more painted behind them to give the room depth. The bold colors of the pillars and wall along with the stained-glass windows illuminated the building. The maroon carpet, the pink chair, and the simple pews did not seem to flow with the the rest of magnificent and strong architecture. In the choir loft, I could really identify the use of trapezoids and triangles. Geometry was used very well.

When our group discuss how we felt in the church some were offended by the style, and some were not. I can understand how someone would take offense to a place decorated like a country that worshipped other gods than the God that they worship in that space. They may think that decoration is out of place for a church. But the design of the church and the way it is decorated can also be seen as a completely different aspect of the church, and have nothing to do with the worship.