The Origins of Roman Historical Commemoration in the Visual Arts

by Peter J. Holliday

Overview

This book analyzes the mentality that required the invention of history to commemorate the achievements of aristocrats at the dawn of the Roman Empire. By investigating classical literary sources as well as the visual arts, this book helps us understand how the Romans justified their action to themselves and to their conquered subjects. It investigates how the Romans interacted with the artistic traditions of the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and other Italian peoples.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521810135
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/08/2002
Pages:	310
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

1. Images of triumph; 2. Scenes of battle, emblems of conquest; 3. Funerary commemorations; 4. The religious and civic duties of magistrates; 5. The effectiveness of historical commemorations in the Republican milieu.

Editorial Reviews

"...an invaluable reference source...that is both useful and stimulating. It will continue to provide an essential overview of this difficult material for a long time." New England Classical Journal

From the Publisher

Holliday (art, California State U.-Long Beach) investigates issues related to Roman historical commemorations, especially the development of historical painting and relief sculpture during the Republican period. He does not challenge any of the conventional features attributed to the genre. but explores why Romans pursued particular themes, why they developed the tastes they did, and why their art appears so tendentious. Much of the material lay dormant in his doctoral dissertation (no date or institution noted) for years while he sought a structure to make sense of the variety of media and images. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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