Essay, Research Paper: The Art Of The Republican Period And The Beginning Of The Empire

Sculpture and painting of the Republican period, initially reflected Etruscan influences. As the empire expanded, exposure to other cultures and the art of Greece reflected a more eclectic style. The building of religious buildings and palaces was of importance, but also they began to concentrate on the needs of the whole community, of the ordinary people, for which they developed new building forms, new structural principles and new building materials. The most important development in this period was that of concrete.
Concrete in contrast to stone, was cheaper, easier to transport and required a less skilled workforce. Roman concrete consisted of powdered lime, sand, and various types of rubble, these were mixed with water, which caused the mixture to harden into a solid mass. Initially concrete was used mainly for poured foundations, but with advances it make indispensable to all types of structures and allowed more freedom and space for artistic experiment and expression.
The remains of the Sanctuary of Fortuna are an example of Republican Roman architecture. The sanctuary is dedicated to the goddess of fate and chance, was begun about 100 BCE. Its design and size reflect the influence of the Greek Hellenistic architecture, in the use of the long colonnade and the colossal scale of the great altar from Pergamon.
A Roman house of this period usually consisted of small rooms laid out on a straight, generally symmetrical plan, as in the House of Pansa in Pompeii (2nd Century BCE). From the entrance a corridor led to the atrium, a large space with a shallow pool for catching rainwater through an opening in the roof. The structure and frontal plan of the house the centrally located atrium surrounded by small rooms- originated with the Etruscans.
The Pont du Gard near Nimes (late 1St century BCE) in southern France is an example of Roman engineering of this period. This structure has a 900-foot span and rises 180 feet above the Gard River. It is still in use as a bridge for pedestrians and carts, but it was originally an aqueduct, part of a system that brought water to Nimes. The Pont du Gard is an impressive example of hydraulic engineering even by modern standards. It is thought to have been built under the direction of Augustus's son-in law Agrippa.
Sculptors of this period tried to create believable images based on careful observations. The large bronze portrait statue of Aulus Metellus (late 2nd or early 1St century BCE) is the work of an Etruscan artist. The name of the subject, a Roman official is inscribed on the hem in Etruscan letters. The statue is known as "The Orator," and depicts him addressing a gathering with his arm outstretched and slightly raised.
Art and architecture of the Republican period shows the gradual change in style as the empire was expanding and being exposed to different cultures. The development of concrete was a great advancement in this period and freed the builders from the limits that constructing with stones put on them. Above are a few examples of the impressive works of art that the Romans created in this period.