Art and Identity In The Roman World by Eve D'ambra

Art and Identity In The Roman World by Eve D'ambra

In this reappraisal of the art and architecture of ancient Rome, Eve D'Ambra focuses on the personal, social and cultural identity of its subjects. The acquisition of art, whether the purchase of copies of Greek statuary, the construction of a sumptuous villa or the commissioning of a portrait head, played a crucial role in Roman society in which displays of wealth and culture were necessary to gain and maintain power. The question of identity is key to understanding the nature of the Roman Empire, which seemed infinitely expandable at its peak, welcomed foreigners to become Romans, freed slaves to citizen status and allowed social mobility within a strictly hierarchical social order. D'Ambra discusses patronage on different social levels, from that of the emperor and his court to those of shopkeepers and or artisans, in diverse regions of the empire and in distinct ethnic groups. She compares the imagery of the state and of military victory with the humblest funerary reliefs. Many provincial artworks were based on imperial models, but others were created in resistance to prevailing imperial standards. D'Ambra draws on a range of sculptures, wall paintings, decorative arts, coins and architectures, from Italy to the edges of the Empire, evoking the traditionalism and the adaptability of Roman art. She also looks ahead to the art and architecture of the fourth century AD, which despite the emergence of Christianity as the dominant religion continued to be influenced by Roman styles and themes.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780297824060
ISBN 10	0297824066
Title	Art and Identity In The Roman World
Author	Eve D'ambra
Series	Everyman Art Library
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Orion Publishing Co
Year published	1998-09-28
Number of pages	176
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.