Week 11 post

Our course offered many new time periods and cultures to learn about. The Etruscan and Roman Art time period were the most interesting periods to learn about. I enjoyed studying about the two different rulers of those times.  For this specific week that we studied the Romans we considered the bust of Commodus as Hercules (c. 191-92 CE) and the portrait of Caracalla (c. 217-230). I always enjoy learning about rulers and what their life was like. This particular option had us looking at both these rulers’ lives and depicting what characteristics were incorporated into their busts. These specific sculptures were only a small part of Roman art that I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the abstraction of this time period. There were a variety of sculptures that came from the Roman period that depict great detail.

            I was more intrigued by the historical context of these pieces. Generally it’s the historical aspect of most art pieces that draw me into their beauty. You can’t fully appreciate a piece unless you know the story behind it. Whether that’s the story of the featured person’s life or the context of why a structure was created. The symbolism of the art pieces is better portrayed through their history. Although the history is interesting for many pieces our interpretation and analysis of the visual details is always stunning.

            I was also intrigued by the function of the structures in roman times. The Roman Arch was one of the well-known structures. Using the golden rectangle through out the structure was the most interesting aspect of the arch. Although the Etruscan and Roman’s were not the ones to invent the round arch they were the first to use the form in their structures efficiently. An example of this is the Pont Du Gard in Nimes, France. Also the Flavian amphitheater emphasized the arch structure in their finished product. This particular structure functioned as one of the many facilities for sporting events.

            The Etruscan and Roman period was a time of violent emperors and facilities that held violent sports. It’s this historical background that drew me into the period. The sacrifices to gods and the stories of rulers who were slightly unorthodox in their methods that were the muse of many artists to create the pieces that we see today.

Week 9 Post

When looking at the Hildesheim Cathedral doors the two panels that stuck out to me the most were the panels three down from the top. The one to the left is from the Old Testament. It is the scene of Adam and Eve in the garden. The one to the right is from the New Testament. It portrays the crucifiction of Jesus Christ. Although these panels portray scenes that happened centuries apart from each other they are strongly connected. 

First I looked at the panel to the left with the Adam and Eve scene. Adam and Eve were the first people God created. First he created Adam and then created Eve from a rib he took from Adam’s side. God provided Adam and Eve with everything. They would be given the perfect life if they followed the one rule. They were to never eat from the Tree of Knowledge. The serpent tempts Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, telling her that it will make her more like God, and that it will not lead to death. Eve falls into temptation and eats from the tree. She then offers Adam to eat as well and he too falls under the temptation. This is known as the Fall of Man. This is where I believe the panel is set. Eve is covering her body as if aware of her nudity. This happened after they ate from the tree, and they covered themselves from God in shame. Adam holds the apple in his hand yet to eat the apple. The panel represents the moment man fell.

The panel next to Adam and Eve is the crucifiction of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was Gods son. Birthed to The Virgin Mary. Jesus was given to the world as a final chance to be forgiven of all sins. Jesus lived his life performing miracles, but when the time came he was betrayed and hung on the cross to die. Before he died he prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." God had given his only son to die for all our sins. When Jesus was resurrected he told the world that we are forgiven for our sins. The panel directly shows the suffering Jesus went through before he died for us. As the Romans put sponges of vinegar in his wounds while he hung from the cross.

These two panels represent the beginning of sin and the forgiveness of sin; the beginning and the end. If Adam and Eve had not eaten from the Tree of Knowledge there would be no sin. With no sin, Jesus would not have had to die for our forgiveness, correlating these two panels. The fall of man was redeemed later in the New Testament by Jesus’s suffering on the cross. These two panels, I believe, are the most connected stories in the bible. They are the two chances that God gave the world to be free of sin, and by placing these panels next to each other we are able to see that correlation between the two. 

Week 7 Post

(For some reason this was deleted from my blog)

The Parthenon Marbles are probably the most interesting piece I’ve learned about this quarter. There is so much history behind them and the fact that there is an on going debate about them brings my interest in further. The Parthenon Marbles originally were sculptures attached to the Parthenon. Over time damage was conflicted on these sculptures during various configurations of the Parthenon. The Parthenon Marbles are the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon. Currently they are in the British Museum, which brings up controversy. The Athenian’s believe they need to be returned to them as apposed to staying in the British Museum, because ‘legally’ they did not belong there. Elgin sold them to the museum to get himself out of debt from his divorce. I personally feel that they belong in the British Museum where they can be recognized and studied. I believe by staying the British Museum there is more cultural gain for everyone.

I always believe historical context it the way to go. It is more intriguing and gives us a better understanding of the history of the piece, and can enlighten us about why certain artistic royalties were taken. The museum display can very easily display both the aesthetics as well as the historical context. I think the Parthenon Marbles should stay in the British Museum. While they are in the British Museum they are able to teach a new culture to people as apposed to teaching a culture to people who are already apart of said culture. Like what would happen if the Parthenon Marbles were to stay in Athens. Museums in my opinion should have various information and pieces from different cultures and multiple areas of the world. It’s one thing to learn about your own area, and it’s a completely new outlook to learn about how people from around the world created art. There are always differences in art from around the world and we won’t be able to see that if we don’t open our eyes to various forms from every nation. By the British Museum having the Parthenon Marbles they are sharing a different culture, and that story with their people. 

Week 8 Post

God, goddesses, and rulers alike all have a different way they want to be represented. It’s the creator’s artistic freedom to depict their statues how they believe their audience sees these higher powers. When considering the bust of Commodus as Hercules and the portrait head of Caracalla we are able to see two different representations of these higher powers.

    When initially looking at the bust of Commodus as Hercules I saw a lot of vanity. Commodus was known to be particularly proud of his physique. The way they show his muscular form holding the apples and weapon depicts this. The weapon is what I can only conclude is what he used to kill the lion that he wears as a headdress. Commodus was incredibly vein he thought of himself as a reincarnation of Hercules.  I’m guessing that’s a servant kneeling down to Hercules, which also shows how vain this statue is. It shows that people would bow to Hercules. Hercules’s face also brings interest to me because it’s the same face most Godley statues have, and it makes him seem so peaceful and detached from what’s going on in the world around him.

    The portrait head of Caracalla has fewer aspects to evaluate than the bust of Commodus. It is simply his head. No bust to see his muscles, no added aspects that would depict him in anyway. It’s simply his face, and a stern one at that. By just representing his head we experience more emotion in his facial features. His stern glance off into the sky depicts a sort of power and determination. The line and detail in this statue is incredible and definitely represents a strong figure. Caracalla is the emperor remembered as unpleasant mostly because of the massacres and persecutions he instigated throughout his Empire.

    When comparing the two statues its hard to compare the full bust. We can only compare the emotion the statues portray. It’s clear that Commodus as Hercules wanted to represent his power over all those below him, and the vanity of his body. Caracalla represents determination and strength through his facial features and distinct lines. I think Commodus, as Hercules is a statue that as an audience we look at to worship whereas Caracalla is a statue that we look upon and respect what it was he did. Each statue represents a different leader. Each leader represents a different achievement or triumph. The background behind both these men is what gives these statues more emotion. After knowing that Commodus was incredibly vein his statue as Hercules makes more sense in that it shows many aspects of vanity. Caracalla was notorious for his lack of caring and this marble portrait shows this emotion to use. I will always be a strong believer in understanding art better with the history behind it rather than my own interpretation of the piece.