bust of comm odus c. ad 190 artwork # 2 subtopic: portraiture

Bust Bust of of

CommCommodusodusc. AD 190c. AD 190

Artwork # 2

Subtopic: Portraiture

But first...a list of But first...a list of EmperorsEmperorsJulio-Claudian dynastyJulio-Claudian dynasty

Augustus 27BC- AD14Augustus 27BC- AD14 Tiberius AD14 - 37Tiberius AD14 - 37 Caligula AD37 – 41Caligula AD37 – 41 Claudius AD 41- 54Claudius AD 41- 54 Nero AD54- 68Nero AD54- 68

Year of 4 emperors Year of 4 emperors (AD 68 –AD69)(AD 68 –AD69) GalbaGalba OthoOtho VitelliusVitellius

Flavian DynastyFlavian Dynasty Vespasian AD69-79Vespasian AD69-79 Titus AD79-81Titus AD79-81 Domitian AD 81-96Domitian AD 81-96

Trajanic DynastyTrajanic Dynasty Nerva AD96-98Nerva AD96-98 Trajan AD98-117Trajan AD98-117 Hadrian AD117-138Hadrian AD117-138Antonine DynastyAntonine Dynasty Antoninus Pius AD138-161Antoninus Pius AD138-161 Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180 Lucis Verus AD161-169Lucis Verus AD161-169 Commodus AD177-192Commodus AD177-192

Severan dynastySeveran dynasty (11 emperors)(11 emperors)

Emperors during the height of Emperors during the height of crisis AD 235-268crisis AD 235-268

Philip the ArabianPhilip the Arabian Many others (constant change)Many others (constant change)

Constantine AD 337-307Constantine AD 337-307

ANTONINES ANTONINES

Antoninus Pius

Marcus Aurelius

Commodus

Introduction to portraitureIntroduction to portraitureRoman Imperial sculpture (Imperial = Sculpture that Roman Imperial sculpture (Imperial = Sculpture that commissioned by the current Emperor) was made to be commissioned by the current Emperor) was made to be seen. It was not created for private enjoyment but was seen. It was not created for private enjoyment but was put in a public place to commemorate and glorify and put in a public place to commemorate and glorify and individual or dynasty (family rule). individual or dynasty (family rule).

There are 2 types of sculpture:There are 2 types of sculpture: Relief (sculptured into stone) Relief (sculptured into stone) Portrait sculpturePortrait sculpture

Sculpture was is a powerful source of Sculpture was is a powerful source of political political propagandapropaganda which generations of emperors used. They which generations of emperors used. They modelled themselves in stone as victorious generals, the modelled themselves in stone as victorious generals, the bringers of peace and prosperity, and later even in the bringers of peace and prosperity, and later even in the image of gods. Statues and relief sculpture were also image of gods. Statues and relief sculpture were also used to commemorate specific events and to remind the used to commemorate specific events and to remind the people of their Emperor’s military skills.people of their Emperor’s military skills.

Political Propaganda in Roman Political Propaganda in Roman ArtArt

Definition: Definition: Propaganda is a intended set of Propaganda is a intended set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of providing information that is unbiased, providing information that is unbiased, propaganda presents information in order to propaganda presents information in order to influence its audience.influence its audience.

Propaganda in art is symbols and images to Propaganda in art is symbols and images to encourage the people to believe a particular encourage the people to believe a particular thing about someone – which may or may not be thing about someone – which may or may not be true. true.

What Kind of What Kind of Personality does Personality does this person look like this person look like they have? What they have? What are some signs of are some signs of this?this?

Emperor Emperor Commodus as Commodus as

Hercules Hercules Architectural type: Architectural type: Bust. The opposite style to Bust. The opposite style to verism, this is verism, this is idealism idealism (facial features are (facial features are simplified, shows and idealised and glorified simplified, shows and idealised and glorified version, usually of the emperor.)version, usually of the emperor.)

Purpose: Purpose: To make the Emperor Commodus look To make the Emperor Commodus look like the God Hercules and thereby associate him like the God Hercules and thereby associate him with superhuman abilities and Hercules’ with superhuman abilities and Hercules’ strength, power, immortality and divinity.strength, power, immortality and divinity.

Date: Date: See Paul Artus book p.85See Paul Artus book p.85Dimensions and Materials used: 1.18 metres high Dimensions and Materials used: 1.18 metres high

& marble& marble

p. 72 workbook

Emperor Commodus as Hercules Emperor Commodus as Hercules workbook p.73workbook p.73

This sculpture has features which belong This sculpture has features which belong to the ‘Antonine Baroque’ Explain what to the ‘Antonine Baroque’ Explain what this means: this means: Write down the notes under Write down the notes under ‘style’ in Paul Artus.‘style’ in Paul Artus.


Cheeks & Cheeks & foreheadforehead

Hair & Hair & BeardBeard

HandHand

Eyes and Eyes and eyelidseyelids

The next slide has notes. Write them in here.

ChestChest

The eyes are not painted. They are incised into the iris. He has heavy eyelids that droop over his iris.

He glances to the left, an arrogant attitude, turns his head away from the viewer

Eyes upturned with arched eyebrows.

This all combines to create a sense of Sleepy Sensuality




HandHand


ChestChest The next slide has notes. Write them in here.

The textured hairy paws of the lion skin contrast the polished, smooth Powerful musculature of his chest




The next slide has notes. Write them in here.

HandHand


ChestChest

His hair: deeply drilled, detailed & elaborate curls have contrasts of light and dark areas, to create shadows on the work. His hair contrasts with the smooth highly polished skin – creating a theatrical effect.



Polished marble gives a youthful appearance.


HandHand


ChestChest

Symbol: Hercules club.

Symbol:

Hercules lion skin (from the 1st of the 12 labours, killing the Nemean Lion)

p.74 of your Workbooks fill In the tables

Apples of the Herispides. (the 11th labour)

Symbol:

Girdle of Hippolyta (Amazon queen). The 9th labour. He killed her & defeated the Amazons

Symbol:

Amazon woman – represents the killing of the amazon women,

Symbol:

Cornucopiae, a ‘horn of plenty’ full of fruit, representing prosperity, fertility and abundance. Represents the new golden age that Commodus has brought

Symbol:

Amazon sheild has a gorgon medusa head on it, referring to a greek myth

Symbol:

‘Orbis Terrarum’ (orb of the world) Has a band across it, which shows signs of the zodiac, taurus (bull), capricorn (goat), and scorpio (scorpian) – important moments in Commodus life

Symbol:

Rosettes on orbis terrarum (orb of the world) represent stars

p.74 of your workbooksp.74 of your workbooks In this box give a brief biography of In this box give a brief biography of

Commodus:Commodus:

Find & write the information ‘History’ in paul Find & write the information ‘History’ in paul artus. Then add this info:artus. Then add this info:

• Called himself ‘Amazonius’ in his Last years• Son of the previous emperor, Marcus Son of the previous emperor, Marcus

Aurelius. He spent the first 3 years reigning Aurelius. He spent the first 3 years reigning with his fatherwith his father

• He wanted to change the names of the He wanted to change the names of the months to his nicknames. months to his nicknames.

• Destroyed the social and political stability that Rome had experienced for 60 years

Complete all questions on p.75 of your workbook. Use Paul Artus to help you

Write this next to the image of Commodus:

Upper torso is Precariously balanced on the base

The whole bust shows him as powerful, arrogant, god-like, idealised.

Work to Work to do………do……… ““Art of the Roman Empire” ( Paul Artus Art of the Roman Empire” ( Paul Artus

Study Notes) p. 84Study Notes) p. 84

“ “ Roman Art and Architecture” (Johnathan Roman Art and Architecture” (Johnathan Campbell) p. 32Campbell) p. 32

Workbook, p. Workbook, p.

bust of comm odus c. ad 190 artwork # 2 subtopic: portraiture

Documents

hercules workbook

emperors ad

commodus ad177

chestemperor commodus

hercules strength

workbookemperor commodus

god hercules

claudius ad