Art and Power

Reading:Nigel Spivey, “Art and Power” from When Art made the World, 155-195.

Terms/Concepts:divine right, hieratic scale, apadana, legalism,

Key Monuments: Palette of Narmer, Early

Dynastic Egypt, 2950 BCE Stele of Naram Sin, Akkadian,

2254-2218 BCE Tomb of the First Emperor,

Shihuangdi, Shaanxi Provence, China, c. 210 BCE

The Augustus Primaporta, Roman Imperial, 1st century CE (possible copy of 20 CE original).

Instruments of Power

1. Divinity2. Empire/

Building3. Faces of Power4. Kingly Deeds

Instruments of Power

1. Divinity2. Empire/

Building3. Faces of Power4. Kingly Deeds

Size = Importance Rulers seen as the most

imposing figure. Ancient kings were

often seen as “larger than life.”

Size is often linked to the divine nature of the ruler.

Egypt

Palette of Narmer, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2950 BCE

Hieratic Scale is the method of using size and position to emphasize importance.

Hathor, the cow goddess, is the nurturer of kings.

Narmer is the biggest and strongest.

Horus, the falcon god declares Narmer the rightful king.

Akkad (Modern day Iraq)

Stele of Naram Sin, Akkadian, 2254-2218 BCE

Naram Sin is the largest and highest figure, therefore the most important.

Sunbursts represent the gods.

Horned crown is usually worn by a god.

Babylon(Modern day Iraq)

Stele of Hammurabi, Old Babylonian, 1792-1750 BCE

“My words are unrivalled…Let any oppressed man, who has a cause, come before my image as king of righteousness!”

Hammurabi Shamash

Instruments of Power

1. Divinity2. Empire/

Building3. Faces of Power4. Kingly Deeds

Building projects showed the strength and wealth of a ruler.

Palaces communicate the power of a king to his subjects.

Buildings could mark the far reaches of empires, showing who was in charge.

Persepolis(Modern day Iran)

Reconstruction of Persepolis, c. 518-460 BCE

2-17, Apadana of Darius and Xerxes, Achaemenid Persian, 518-460 BCE

*The Apadana is the audience hall where Darius met with his subjects.

Lion attacking an Antelope, Apadana, Persepolis, Apadana, 518-460 BCE

Stairs and Processional Friezes, Apadana, Achaemenid Persian, 518-460 BCE

Stairs, Apadana, Achaemenid Persian, 518-460 BCE

Processional Friezes, Apadana, Achaemenid Persian, 518-460 BCE

Processional Friezes, Apadana, Achaemenid Persian, 518-460 BCE

Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute, Achaemenid Persian, 491-486 BCE

Near XianShaanxi, China

Tomb of the First Emperor, Shihuangdi, Qin Dynasty, Shaanxi Provence, China, c. 210 BCE

Tomb of the First Emperor, Shihuangdi, Qin Dynasty Shaanxi Provence, China, c. 210 BCE

Near Nimes, France

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source

• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

Instruments of Power

1. Divinity2. Empire/

Building3. Faces of Power4. Kingly Deeds

The way a king looked was supposed to embody how a king ruled.

Kings were supposed to look physically capable of ruling.

Kings were often concerned with eternal youth and permanence.

Giza(Near Modern day Cairo)

Cult Statue of Khafre, Old Kingdom, 2520-2465 BCE

Akkad (Modern day Iraq)

Head of Akkadian Ruler, Akkadian, 2340-2180 BCE

Rome, Italy

The Augustus Primaporta, Roman Imperial, 1st century CE (possible copy of 20 CE original).

Augustus Primaporta, Roman Imperial 1st century CE.

Portrait Head of an Elder. Roman Republican, c.80 BCE.

Augustus Primaporta, Roman Imperial 1st century CE.

Moammar Ghadafi, c. 2010.

"He told me that he had been in power for 25 years at that time, and that he did not want the young people of his nation to see him as an old man.” Ghadafi’s plastic surgeon

Ife(Modern day Nigeria)

Crowned Head of a King, Ife, Yoruba, 12th-15th Century CE

1. Ifarahon (or visibility): bold features and fine detail

2. Didon (or luminosity): smooth sheen3. Gigun (or straight): strong posture and

features.4. Odo (or “prime of life”): the proper age5. Tut (or serenity): stoic expression6. Ashe: Life Force7. Iwa: Creativity8. Ara: Evocative Power

Instruments of Power

1. Divinity2. Empire/

Building3. Faces of Power4. Kingly Deeds

Feats of Bravery Kings were required to

prove their physical strength.

Kings were expected to be fierce warriors.

A ruler’s military prowess was linked to their right to rule.

Assyria(Modern day Iraq)

Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions, Assyrian, 875-860 BCE

Lion Hunt, from the throne room of Assurbanipal, Nineveh, 647 BCE

Lion Hunt, Palace of Assurbanipal, Assyrian, 647 BCE

Dying Lion, Throne Room of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, 647 BCE

Dead Lion, Throne Room of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, 647 BCE

Rome, Italy

Augustus of Primaporta, Roman Imperial 1st Century CE

Roman soldier

Cornucopia

Parthian soldier

Roman standard with sculpture of eagle

Apollo on a griffin

Diana on a stag

Sol (Sun) on a chariot

Luna (moon)

Personification of Bounty