Characteristics of ancient Roman sculpture

Características de la escultura romana antigua

The sculptures of the Ancient Rome They were intended to represent what they considered their ideal of beauty, with realistic overtones and praising above all the aesthetic value of the piece. Although it does not have as much relevance as the Greek sculpture , Roman sculpture did have a great influence in its time. That's why we'd like to tell you more about it today.

The origin of Roman sculpture

Roman sculpture developed between the 6th century BC and the 5th century AD, heavily influenced by Greek sculpture (especially Etruscan sculpture). Although it is common to think that the Romans were simply "imitator" of the Greeks, it has been shown that they also made original contributions to their work, especially in the case of portraiture.

Characteristics

  • As we have already mentioned, one of the most notable characteristics of ancient Roman sculpture is the influence of Etruscan and Greek sculpture, and through their sculptures, one can observe the evolution of Hellenistic idealism.
  • The materials most commonly used by Roman sculptors were bronze and marble, with the latter being particularly prevalent.
  • It was a very utilitarian work, which expressed the idea that Rome was the center of the world and sought to exalt the power of the Roman State.
  • They were the precursors of two genres: the portrait and the narrative relief.
    • At first, these portraits were more austere, although over the years they evolved to idealize the subjects they portrayed. They also achieved more expressive features and a naturalistic rendering of the characters they represented.
    • Narrative reliefs. You're probably familiar with them; they're historical visual depictions carved into stone. The most common depictions were military glories on altars, triumphal arches, columns, tombs, and more.

Start carving your own sculptures

In Rock & Tools We have extensive experience selling stoneworking tools. On our website, you can find a comprehensive catalog of the best tools for carving all types of stone. If you need more information about which tools are best for you, you can find it on our blog or contact us for advice. Join our community! You can follow us here and on our social media.

RELATED CONTENT