Roman Sculpture: Portraits, Reliefs, and Sarcophagi
Roman Sculpture
1. The Portrait
Roman sculpture is characterized by its realistic depiction of individuals, focusing on their unique traits and psychological depth. This contrasts with Greek sculpture, which often idealized its subjects.
- Roman sculptors were particularly interested in capturing the features of the face, often creating busts that emphasized individual characteristics.
- Unlike Greek sculpture, Roman portraiture had a more private character, not always focusing on heroes or important figures.
Influences on Roman Portraiture:
- Etruscan Tradition: Funeral portraits.
- Hellenistic Influence: Incorporating elements of Greek style.
- Roman Ancestor Worship: The practice of creating face masks of the deceased, which were displayed during funerals.
Evolution of Roman Portraits:
- Republic Era: Intense realism, especially in bust portraits.
- Early Empire: A blend of realism and idealism, particularly in depictions of the emperor and his family. The aim was to “magnify” the emperor, as seen with the deified Augustus.
- 2nd Century AD: Idealized features became more refined, with busts extending down to the forearm, as seen in portraits of Caracalla and the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
- 3rd Century AD: A shift towards schematic and simplified imagery, sometimes bordering on caricature, with a rough and expressionistic style.
2. The Historic Relief
The historical relief was a genre created by the Romans to represent actual events and their history. These reliefs originated from the tablets carried by victorious generals during triumphal marches, depicting various stages of war.
- Historical themes were developed in a continuous narrative, often incorporating landscape elements and decorative details.
- Mythological scenes, following Greek models, were also common.
Two Main Styles of Historical Relief:
- Hellenistic Pictorial Style: Emphasizing atmosphere and depth through staggered planes.
- Linear Style: Backgrounds disappear, and figures overlap in a chaotic manner.
These two styles are also found in sarcophagi.
Trajan’s Column
Trajan’s Column depicts the emperor’s campaigns against the Dacians. The narrative is the primary focus, sacrificing spatial perspective and composition. Figures often overlap, lacking clarity. The column consists of a square pedestal that served as the emperor’s burial chamber, with a stem covered in spiral reliefs and topped by a statue of Trajan. A staircase inside the column leads to the top.
3. Sarcophagi
Although incineration was the main burial practice, burial became more common from the mid-2nd century AD, leading to the creation of large sarcophagi. These rectangular sarcophagi were placed against walls and decorated on three sides.
- Early sarcophagi featured simple decorations such as garlands, pilasters, or a mythological figure, and sometimes a bust of the deceased in a medallion.
- From the 2nd century AD, sarcophagi with continuous reliefs became popular, depicting mythological scenes, wars, or hunts.
- Similar to historical reliefs, there were two main styles: Hellenistic and linear.