CHAPTER 9 ETRUSCAN
ETRUSCAN: Contextual Summary ORIENTALIZING ART BCE Etruscans emerged as a people with a culture distinct from other Italic or Greek peoples 7 th century BCE, Etrustcans trade metals from their mines and began to produce jewelry and other luxury objects decorated with inspired motifs from Mesopatmia. The Regolini-Galassi Tomb at Cerveteri contains treasure of Orientalizing Etruscan jewelry.
Regolin-Galassi fibula, Cerveteri BCE with Orientalizing lions Repousse Granulation Pectoral
ETRUSCAN: Contextual Summary Artists and architects adapted Greek objects and forms to create buildings and artworks that appealed to their tastes for eclecticism and historicism. Architecture are characterized by investment in public structures. Buildings made of wood and terra-cotta (not stone). Sculptures and temples influenced by Archaic Greek works. Sculptors excel in bronze and terra-cotta production.
Gardner’s 12 th ed., p Model of a typical Etruscan temple Tuscan columns Reconstruction of the Tuscan Order Temple according to Vitruvius.
Apollo from Veii, 510 BCE Terracotta Stood on the roof of the temple (Etruscan innovation);meant to be seen from below Archaic smile
Gardner’s 11 th ed., p Sarcophagus with reclining couple from Cerveteri, 520 BCE, terra-cotta Sarcophagus of married couple with ashes inside Symbiotic relationship; reflects the high standing women had in Etruscan society Once held objects in their hands Concentration on upper body; less on legs Ancient tradition ofreclining while eating; represents a banquet couch
Capitoline Wolf, 500 BCE, bronze Renaissance addition Story of Romulus and Remus suckled by the She-Wolf; later became the founders of Rome (father was Mars/mother was Rhea) Children added in the Renaissance Scholarly debate over the dating of this object; may be Medieval copy
www3.unifi.it/.../digitalchimera/index.html faculty.cva.edu Art Resource Chimera of Arezzo, BCE, bronze Composite ancient animal with lion’s head and body, a goat’s neck springing from the spine, and a snake for a tail Posed for attack Spinelike mane Hurt defensive posture
ETRUSCAN: Contextual Summary Etruscan art : Typically considered as a single cultural unit even though Etruria was comprised of separate city-states. Typified by stylistic and iconographical eclecticism and portraiture. Expresses republican and imperial values, power, and preference for conspicuous display. Most of what is known comes from tombs, which are arranged in densely packed necropoli.
Coconino Community College Aule Metele (Arringatore, Orator Expresses republican and imperial values, power, and preference for conspicuous display.
faculty.cva.edu Art Resources Banditaccia necropolis, Cerveteri, Italy Tumulus (Tumuli) faculty.cva.edu/Stout/Etruscan/Etruscan.html sfusd.edu
Interior of the Tomb of the Reliefs, Cerveteri
Tomb of the Leopards, BCE Banqueters and musicians, Art Resources Funerary, on walls of tombs-some 280 painted chambers Brightly painted frescoes Cheerful world of Etruscans celebrating, dancing, eating, and playing musical instruments
ETRUSCAN: Vocabulary Necropolis (plural necropoli):” a city of the dead,” a large burial area Stucco: a fine plaster used for wall decorations or moldings Terra-cotta: a hard ceramic clay used for building or for making pottery Tumulus (plural tumuli): an artificial mound of earth and stones placed over a grave