Italy: A Closer Look - Italy - page 592

THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (500 B . C .- A . D . 500)
The art and architecture of the Roman empire is the highlight of the classical
period. Statuary of this era in archaeological museums, architectural monuments
such as the Roman Colosseum, the preserved city of Pompeii, and the Roman
Forum, are must-sees on any visit.
The Romans borrowed their artistic and architectural styles from the Greeks
and Etruscans. Etruscan relics from the era before 600 B . C . can be found in muse-
ums across the country (Volterra has an outstanding one, as does Rome in the
Villa Giulia). Etruscan tombs are scattered across the Tuscan countryside, and
some bronze statuary still survive in Florence's archaeological museum.
Greeks colonized Southern Italy in the pre-Roman era, and their works signif-
icantly influenced the Romans. Paestum's museum, in Campania, has some of the
best surviving Greek works in Italy, and archaeological centers across the country
have a variety of pottery, tomb carvings, and statue fragments. Many Roman
statues are copies of the Greek originals (perhaps the “Classical Roman” era
should really be called the “first neoclassical period”).
Obviously, Rome is the best place for highlights of classical Roman art and
architecture. For sculpture, look to the bas-relief carvings on the Arch of
Constantine, and to the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius on the Capitoline
steps. For mosaics, see the collection at the Museo Nazionale Romano. The mas-
sive Roman Colosseum displays not only the classic Roman arches, columns, and
brick-and-concrete construction techniques, but the 45,000-seat stadium is evidence
of the remarkable scale and scope of Rome's public works. For the engineering-
minded, architectural techniques are on display at the Pantheon—a 1st-century
marvel of scientific proportions, and an innovative dome construction that was
not even attempted again for 1,400 years.
The city of Pompeii is another awesome display of Roman art, architecture,
and urban engineering. The symmetry of the streets uncovered from the A . D . 79
eruption of Mt. Vesuvius shows the organization of the city, while interior mosaics
and wall paintings show something of the artistic side. The area, one of the won-
ders of the world, also has a well-preserved amphitheater and temple. Naples's
archaeological museum contains some transferred mosaics from Pompeii, along
with a host of other relics, and Sicily boasts a fine collection of ancient mosaics in
the villa of Piazza Armerina.
THE MEDIEVAL ERA (5TH-14TH C.)
Medieval art in Italy was wholly concerned with the Church. Nobles sponsored
elaborate altars and artworks to atone for their sins and demonstrate their piety to
their neighbors. Churches funded frescoes and statuary to educate the mostly illit-
erate parishioners about Scripture. Many medieval artworks take almost a comic-
book form of progressive panel paintings illustrating the life of Jesus, the miracles
of saints, and other teachings. The early part of this era had a strong Byzantine
flavor. This was a time when the Eastern Church in Constantinople (now
Istanbul) exerted the strongest cultural influence, all while Vandals, Goths, and
other tribes were running amok through Rome and Italy.
Far removed from the realism of the classical period, Byzantine art had an
iconic, symbolic feel: Two-dimensional, static representations were the norm.