In the second century the Imperial Romans began looking back to the Etruscan styles in their creation of sarcophagus lids. A couple is pictured reclining on a couch together. During the Imperial Roman period, there were workshops creating these in great quantities. The individual features would be added when a sale was made (much like in the addition of the deceased into Books of the Dead in Egypt.) The face of the woman on this particular example was never finished. Nevertheless, there are still comparisons to be made between the 6th century BC Etruscan sarcophagus and the 2nd century AD Roman one. The Romans were very concerned with their image in the public arena, with the notion of decorum and proper action. They also relied on Greek sculptural models for validation of their way of life, often depicting humans as gods.
Discuss these two images in terms of public and private life. Do either of the two pieces seem to exist in a more private world, a more public? How do they communicate either a feeling of privacy and intimacy or public display?
The Roman sarcophagus seems to exist in a more private world. The couple is relaxed resting on a couch. The revealing drapery of the woman’s dress, and the way man and woman look at each other add a feeling of privacy. The fact that each sarcophagus was personalized makes it even more intimate and personal. The Etruscan sarcophagus looks more public. Despite the fact that it also shows a loving couple, the sculpture seems to be more strained and less naturalistic. I had an impression that the Etruscan couple is posing for the artist, while Roman couple is simply enjoying themselves.
ReplyDeleteI believe, the Romans perfected the Etruscan style of creating sarcophagi by making them more naturalistic and personal.
Although there are many 2nd Century Roman sarcophagus lids that appear to be in a public world, the Roman sarcophagus lid posted on this blog depicts a more private moment. I noticed that despite the face of the women being incomplete, the artist sculpted a lot of detail and he/she created a realistic sculpture of the man and women. I mentioned that the sculpture depicts a more intimate setting because of the position they are both in, they seemed to be staring at each other as opose to staring out into a crowd. The Etruscan sarcophagus lid however,looks similar to a traditional Roman lid. Of course it lacks the realism and amount of detail the Roman lids have but the man and women in this lid are staring out, showing signs of a more public environment. Based on their posture and their attention, being outward at someone(s) or something instead of each other, it is clearly shown that this lid involved a more public setting.
ReplyDeleteElizaveta Georgieva:
ReplyDeleteThe art of Roman sarcophagi was inspired by the Etruscan tradition. Both sarcophagi represent a married couple reclining on a couch, embracing each other. Both of them serve the same purpose - to depict a deceased married couple. However, they have important differences as well. The couple from the Etruscan sarcophagus is more vivedly portrayed. They smile and gesticulate with their arms. Therefore, the sculpture seems more intimate than public. The Roman sculpture is more solemn. The pose is more theatrical. The accent is on the dignity of the pose, beauty of the folds of the garments. It is still somewhat intimate because the husband and the wife are looking at each other. But the overall impression is that the sculpture is meant for public display.
I beleive that the Roman sarcophagi is a representation of a private lifestyle because they didn't reveal the womans face. The man in this sculpture may have been unfaithful to his wife or had many wives or this could have been a mistress. The Etruscan style is more open and inviting by offering happy facial expressions. Even though this may be sureal, it is how they wanted themselves remembered.
ReplyDeleteI believe that from my understanding of the two sculptures, the Roman sarcophagus was definitely under the private lifestyle more then the public display. I think that it looks more private because in the first sculpture the woman isn't even facing frontwards, she has her head turned towards the man. In the first and second sculpture, they are both very intimate with one another giving a sense of privacy.
ReplyDeleteDuring the Imperial Rome period people of significance, education and wealth were allowed to live and operate in a very polished lifestyle. Their statues were created to reflect their image. The couple in the top picture displays an intimate setting. The sarcophagus portrays a lively even jovial couple sharing a banquet sofa. Both genders were considered fairly equal in Etruscan culture. The status of women in Roman society was somewhere in between the Etruscan and Greek model. The second picture shows a married couple from the Bandataccia Necroplis. They appear natural and not romantic type even they are sitting close in an upright posture. The two couple seem to be enjoying an intimate moment; but indeed they are on public display.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman sarcophagus seemed to be personalized more to the relationship between the man and woman. Keeping the face of the woman private. As if this pose was personable. It seemed more loving and connected. Whereas the BC Etruscan sarcophagus was more of a display of power the couple had together. They were more focused on the surroundings and openness to others rather then each other. It seems as time past the mood became more disconnected.
ReplyDeleteMichael B.
ReplyDeletei feel as though these two would be better displayed in a more private setting. in both the show a lot of intimacy between each other. in the first one you can see the woman turned looking into the eyes of her husband/boyfriend and in both of them both couples are holding each other and both seem to be very connected to each other.
The Roman sarcophagus seems to be more private. They look as if they are about to share an intimate moment. They are looking directly at each other. The man seems to be undressed under the sheets. The other image seems to be more public. Even though they are also sharing a little feelings, by him having his arm around her, its less intimate and private and can be displayed in public.
ReplyDeleteIn the Roman sarcophagus lids shown above we can see more of a private intimate setting. We can see that the couple is focusing on each other as the man wraps his hands around his lady with compassion and security. Even though the artist did not finish the woman’s face we can see that the artist intension was to show the couples bond between each other. However in the Etruscan sarcophagus lid we can see more of a public setting. We can see the couple focusing more on posing and not each other. We can even see the way the man holds his lady is not intimate he does not even wrap his hands around her completely. I feel this sculpture was more as an obligation like a job than a choice.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at both the Roman sarcophagus and the Etruscan sarcophagus, I believe they are both very different. I believe the Roman sarcophagus could be looked at as public and private. On one hand, the fact that they were made in large quantities gives me the impression they were made more for a public dispay. At the same time, waiting to add individual features until after the sale was made gives the impression it was made for private world. When I look at the Roman sarcophagus it definitely has more of a intimacy feeling over a public display. The fact that the two are laying together with their faces looking into one another gives the feeling that is was just about the two of them being together. The way the drapery lays on her and his naked chest makes me feel like im looking at a personal moment between a couple that was meant for their private home. The Etruscan sarcophagus gives me the impression that it was made for a more public display. Even though the couple is sitting together on a couch or bed, they seem more forced and set in that position. Unlike the Roman sarcophagus, these two do not make eye contact. They are sitting up and facing forward. There is not much detail to their faces and clothing like the Roman sarcophagus. My overall impression is that the Etruscan was built with a more general idea rather than focused on a specific couple and was made for public display somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the peices I first see how simular they are. The theme of a couple resting together. the one on top with the woman with the unfinished face looks a bit less formal. The man's posture is relaxed. The woman too looks like she is comfortble hanging out with her had under her chin. In the Roman on you can see the influnce of a concern for decourm that the Roman's have. The pupblic appearance seems to want them to look proper. They are more posed. Their bodies are less defined but look in beter physical shape. So they are very simualar but you do see a contrast of a more casual feel for one vs a more formal feel for the other.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman Sarcophagus shows more intimacy. It gives the sense of lovers laying on a sofa together, looking at each other, and very relax. Although they were inspired by the etruscan style,I believe the two are similar in a way that in both there is a couple holding together, but the expressions are totaly diferent. In the Etruscan sarcophagus the couple expressed more love, sadness, by the way the man is holding the lady, one hand on her showder and the other on her arm,and the way he looks at her, he seems to show sympathy for her. She is showing her hands up, that gives me a sense of emptyness.
ReplyDeleteMax W. The first piece definitely seems more private and personal. Although the head is not completed for the women, it appears like she and the man are dazing into each others eyes. The second piece however seems much less personal and private. The way they are positioned towards the viewer and not each other makes it seem like they are greeting others who come in. The second artwork seems to be much more public and inviting.
ReplyDeleteLeonard S. In this blog, I will look at 6th century BC Etruscan sarcophagus and the 2nd century AD Roman sarcophagus. In the Etruscan sarcophagus it looks like the couple where very active in the public. It looks like they wanted it to be more of a public world, rather then a private world. They do not looking at each other, but look to other people, and it looks like there are gesturing some thing with their hands. This sarcophagus looks is intended for a public display. I could really see this display in out in a park, rather then in a cemetery. In the AD Roman sarcophagus, it is really different from the Etruscan. This display looks like it’s more of a private display. The two look like they were vary private and just focused on each other. This pieces looks like it exists more in the private world. It looks like the couple is all about each other, focusing most details to each others. Looking at this sarcophagus, you can see a feeling of intimacy between the two. In this display it looks like there are holding each other, the man is firmly holding the women, and the women and man are both looking at each others eyes.
ReplyDeleteCompared to the Estruscan piece, the Roman sarcophagi lid depicts a private moment. Romans practiced Hellenistic stoicism, so showing an embrace like this in public would be humiliating. The Estruscan piece is also depictinga couple in an almost welcoming position. They look as if they are greeting the people visiting their tomb, making it a more public display.
ReplyDeleteThe two picture are somewhat Similar in the way they have a male and female shown together in a relaxing way.The 6th century Etruscan Sarcophagus one seem to look more private the way they lay and stair at each other with such a passion and since of love as if they where just awaking from a long night. For as the 2nd century AD century Romans has more of a setting look or public Appearances style. it show the couple in a up right comfortable setting.I could see this model in a park or Museums they have the pollster of a more respected manner.
ReplyDeletePrince G. The first image shows a lot of feelings the two have for one another, cuddled up on the couch very relaxed and seem as she is listening to him on what he has to say...the second image shows a lot of talking and listening, seems a lot of explaining going on which comforts perhaps on what you did or doing wrong and what you need to do to not make the mistake again, but love and understanding is there.
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