 |
| The Last Judgment in the Church of Santa Cecilia, Rome |
Pietro Cavallini was an Italian painter and mosaic
designer working during the late Middle Ages, the Roman Art era. Little is
known about his biography, though it is known he was from Rome, since he signed
pictor romanus. His first notable work were the fresco cycles for the Basilica
di San Paolo fuori le Mura, with stories from the New and Old Testament in year
1277 to the year 1285. However, they were destroyed by the fire of 1823. His
Last Judgment in the Church of Santa Cecilia in Rome, painted c. 1293 and
considered Cavallini’s masterwork, demonstrates an artistic style known as
Roman naturalism.
 |
| Realism style |
Type of style that has been used in Roman art is
Realism. Like the Romans themselves, early Roman art (c. 510 BCE to 27 BCE)
tended to be realistic and direct. Portraits, both two-dimensional and
three-dimensional were typically detailed and unidealized, although later
during the age of Hellenistic-Roman art (c.27 BCE to 200 CE). The romans became
aware of the propaganda value of busts and statuary. Painting styles in ancient
Rome were bright and colourful with the techniques which the colours were
applied are quite complex.
The base of the paintings clearly had to be
perfectly clean and smooth. This was to obtained through repeated layering of
plastering and fine sand which can be polished with a fine layer of marbles
dust that is rendered compact and hard. The surface would then be dampened
before the colors could be applied. The color would be absorbed into smoother
compact but porous. The finished painting then would be polished to a shiny
finish probably through the application of oils and final wax seal. A rough
drawing could be scratched on top of the plaster for the more difficult figures
and forms before applying the paint.
 |
| Greek statue and Roman statue |
Romans art grows out of Etruscan art and has a close
resemblance to Greek art. During the Roman Republic (500 BC), Roman statues are
made to be realistic, a total opposite of Greek statues which has an idealistic
approach. About 200 BC, Roman art style changes when they begin conquering
Greece. The Roman soldiers bring home a lot of Greek art during their conquest,
either by buying or stealing it. Greek sculptors are usually brought to Rome as
slaves, serving under the Roman Republic by creating more art for them. Roman art
continues to get influenced by Greek elements, and art often used as propaganda
by the emperors. Examples are the Arch of Titus and Trajan’s Column.
 |
| The Roman Empire, Rome |
The Roman Empire was one of the greatest and most
influential civilizations in the world history. It began in the city of Rome in
753 BC and lasted for well over 1000 years. During that time, Rome grew to rule
much of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
1. Honisya
2. Marina
3. Megan
4. Alice
5. Hanim
