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Roman sculptors were primarily concerned with depicting idealized human forms, similar to the artistic goals of the Ancient Egyptians.
Answer: False
Explanation: Roman sculptors, particularly in portraiture, prioritized characterful realism over the idealized forms favored by Greeks and Ancient Egyptians.
Most Roman statues, as seen today, retain their original monochromatic stone appearance, reflecting the artists' intent.
Answer: False
Explanation: Most Roman statues were originally brightly colored and lifelike; their current monochromatic appearance is due to the loss of pigments over centuries, not the artists' original intent.
Roman painting is abundantly preserved, offering a rich contrast to the scarcity of Roman sculpture.
Answer: False
Explanation: Roman sculpture, particularly in stone, is abundantly preserved, whereas Roman painting, despite being widely practiced, has largely been lost over time.
Pliny the Elder's *Natural History* is a significant ancient source describing Roman statues, some of which correspond to extant works.
Answer: True
Explanation: Pliny the Elder's *Natural History*, specifically Book 34, is a key ancient text that describes various statues, and some of these descriptions align with sculptures that have survived to the present day.
Life-size bronze Roman statues are rare today because they were primarily destroyed by natural disasters.
Answer: False
Explanation: Life-size bronze Roman statues are rare today primarily because they were melted down for their valuable metal over the centuries, not due to natural disasters.
Early Roman art was influenced by both Greek art and the art of the Etruscans, who were themselves influenced by Greek trading partners.
Answer: True
Explanation: Early Roman art drew significant influence from both Greek art and the art of the Etruscans, with the latter also being shaped by their interactions with Greek trading partners.
The expansion of the Roman Republic led to a distinct and easily identifiable Roman style in official sculpture, separate from Hellenistic influences.
Answer: False
Explanation: The expansion of the Roman Republic into Greek territory led to official and patrician sculpture largely becoming an extension of the Hellenistic style, making distinct Roman elements difficult to identify.
By the 2nd century BCE, sculpting was a highly respected profession among Romans, often pursued by patrician families.
Answer: False
Explanation: By the 2nd century BCE, most sculptors in Rome were Greek, often enslaved, and the profession was generally not highly respected by Romans, being considered a hobby at best.
Greek statues were primarily brought to Rome through peaceful commerce and trade agreements.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vast numbers of Greek statues were brought to Rome primarily as spoils of war, through extortion, or via commerce, and were often used to decorate Roman temples.
The *Farnese Bull* and *Farnese Hercules* were recovered from the Baths of Caracalla.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *Farnese Bull* and the *Farnese Hercules* are among the well-known sculptures that were recovered from the Baths of Caracalla.
What unique challenge does the study of Roman sculpture present for art historians?
Answer: Its close relationship to Greek sculpture, often known through Roman copies.
Explanation: The study of Roman sculpture is uniquely challenged by its close relationship to Greek sculpture, as many famous Greek works are primarily known today through Roman Imperial or Hellenistic copies, leading to complexities in attribution and stylistic analysis.
Which of the following was considered a primary strength of Roman sculpture, distinguishing it from Greek or Ancient Egyptian art?
Answer: Creating highly characterful and realistic portraiture.
Explanation: Roman sculpture's primary strength, distinguishing it from Greek or Ancient Egyptian art, was its highly characterful and realistic portraiture, which prioritized individual likeness over idealized forms.
What is the current understanding regarding the original appearance of most Roman statues?
Answer: They were originally far more lifelike and brightly colored.
Explanation: Contrary to their present-day appearance, most Roman statues were originally painted in vibrant colors, making them far more lifelike than the monochromatic stone surfaces seen today.
How does the preservation of Roman sculpture compare to Roman painting?
Answer: Roman sculpture is abundantly preserved, unlike Roman painting which is mostly lost.
Explanation: Roman sculpture, particularly in stone, is extensively preserved, offering a rich body of evidence, whereas Roman painting, despite its prevalence in antiquity, has largely perished over time.
Which ancient author is most notably cited for describing various Roman statues in his *Natural History*?
Answer: Pliny the Elder
Explanation: Pliny the Elder, in Book 34 of his *Natural History*, is the most notable ancient author cited for describing various Roman statues, some of which correspond to extant works.
Why are life-size bronze Roman statues much rarer today compared to stone sculptures?
Answer: They were primarily melted down for their valuable metal.
Explanation: Life-size bronze Roman statues are significantly rarer today than stone sculptures because the valuable metal was frequently recycled over the centuries, leading to their widespread destruction.
Early Roman art was significantly influenced by the art of which two cultures?
Answer: Greek and Etruscan.
Explanation: Early Roman art was profoundly shaped by the artistic traditions of both Greece and the neighboring Etruscans, with the latter themselves being influenced by Greek trading partners.
How did the expansion of the Roman Republic into Greek territory affect official and patrician sculpture?
Answer: It resulted in sculpture becoming an extension of the Hellenistic style, making Roman elements hard to distinguish.
Explanation: The Roman Republic's expansion into Greek territory led to official and patrician sculpture largely adopting and extending the Hellenistic style, making it challenging to discern uniquely Roman artistic elements.
By the 2nd century BCE, what was the general background and social standing of most sculptors working in Rome?
Answer: They were mostly Greek, often enslaved, and their profession was not highly respected by Romans.
Explanation: By the 2nd century BCE, the majority of sculptors in Rome were Greek, frequently enslaved, and their profession was generally not held in high esteem by Roman society.
How did Rome primarily acquire vast numbers of Greek statues?
Answer: As spoils of war, through extortion, or via commerce.
Explanation: Rome acquired vast numbers of Greek statues primarily through military conquest (spoils of war), extortion, or commercial transactions, which were then often used to adorn Roman temples.
What did the Caligula bust with visible traces of original paint suggest about ancient sculpture?
Answer: That ancient sculpture was originally brightly colored.
Explanation: The Caligula bust, with its visible traces of original paint, provides compelling evidence that ancient sculpture, including Roman works, was originally brightly colored and polychrome, rather than the monochromatic stone we see today.
Which of the following sculptures were recovered from the Baths of Caracalla?
Answer: The *Farnese Bull* and the *Farnese Hercules*.
Explanation: The *Farnese Bull* and the *Farnese Hercules* are among the most renowned sculptures that were recovered from the Baths of Caracalla, now housed in the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples.
What was a particular specialty of the Etruscans that influenced early Roman art?
Answer: Producing near life-size tomb effigies in terracotta.
Explanation: A notable specialty of the Etruscans, which influenced early Roman art, was their production of near life-size tomb effigies in terracotta, often depicted reclining on sarcophagus lids.
Which museums are noted for housing significant collections of Roman portrait sculpture today?
Answer: The British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Explanation: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum in London are specifically noted for their significant collections of Roman portrait sculpture.
Which of the following were recovered from the Gardens of Sallust?
Answer: The *Obelisco Sallustiano* and the *Dying Gaul*.
Explanation: The *Obelisco Sallustiano* and the *Dying Gaul* are among the significant sculptures that were recovered from the Gardens of Sallust, a prominent ancient Roman garden.
The Grave relief of Publius Aiedius and Aiedia exemplifies an idealized Greek style rather than a realist 'Italian' approach.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Grave relief of Publius Aiedius and Aiedia, created in 30 BC, is a prime example of the realist 'Italian' style, which emphasized individual features over idealized forms.
Portraiture, focusing on individual likeness, is considered a main strength of Roman sculpture, particularly evident in middle-class tomb monuments.
Answer: True
Explanation: Roman sculpture's strength in portraiture, emphasizing individual likeness and characterful realism, is particularly well-demonstrated in the tomb monuments of the prosperous middle class and in ancestral busts displayed in elite homes.
The 'Capitoline Brutus' is a well-preserved marble statue representing the idealized Imperial style.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Capitoline Brutus' is a rare bronze head from the Republican period, exemplifying the Italic style, not an idealized Imperial marble statue.
The bust of Emperor Claudius was originally sculpted as Caligula and later reworked, demonstrating a practice of adapting existing sculptures.
Answer: True
Explanation: The bust of Emperor Claudius is noted for having been reworked from an earlier bust of Emperor Caligula, illustrating the Roman practice of adapting existing sculptures.
The *Augustus of Prima Porta* is a significant example of Republican-era portraiture, emphasizing rugged individualism.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Augustus of Prima Porta* is a prime example of idealized Imperial portraiture from the 1st century CE, contrasting with the rugged individualism characteristic of Republican-era portraiture.
Republican-era Roman portraiture often depicted physical imperfections, reflecting a value placed on character and experience over vanity.
Answer: True
Explanation: Republican-era Roman portraiture was characterized by a 'warts and all' realism, depicting physical imperfections and ruggedness as marks of character and experience, in contrast to later idealized Imperial forms.
The bust of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus exemplifies the idealized forms preferred in Roman Imperial portraiture.
Answer: False
Explanation: The bust of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus exemplifies the 'warts and all' realism and individualized naturalism characteristic of Roman portraiture, which contrasts with the idealized forms of Imperial portraiture.
What artistic style is exemplified by the Grave relief of Publius Aiedius and Aiedia?
Answer: Realist 'Italian' style.
Explanation: The Grave relief of Publius Aiedius and Aiedia (30 BC) is a clear example of the realist 'Italian' style, which emphasized individual features and naturalism.
Where is a native Italian sculptural style, characterized by portrait busts focusing on individual likeness, most evident?
Answer: In the tomb monuments of prosperous middle-class Romans.
Explanation: A native Italian sculptural style, particularly evident in its focus on individual likeness in portrait busts, is most clearly observed in the tomb monuments of prosperous middle-class Romans.
The 'Capitoline Brutus' is significant as a rare surviving example of what?
Answer: An Italic style bronze head from the Republican period.
Explanation: The 'Capitoline Brutus' is a significant and rare surviving example of an Italic style bronze head, believed to date from the Republican period, highlighting the early Roman preference for bronze in such works.
The bust of Emperor Claudius reveals what about Roman sculptural practices?
Answer: Sculptures were sometimes reworked from earlier busts of different emperors.
Explanation: The bust of Emperor Claudius, reworked from an earlier bust of Caligula, demonstrates the Roman sculptural practice of adapting and re-carving existing imperial portraits.
What was the significance of the *Augustus of Prima Porta*?
Answer: It represented the idealized imperial portraiture of the era.
Explanation: The *Augustus of Prima Porta* is a highly significant 1st-century CE statue of Emperor Augustus, serving as a quintessential example of the idealized imperial portraiture prevalent during his reign.
In elite Roman houses during the Republic, where were ancestral portrait busts prominently displayed?
Answer: In the entrance hall, or *atrium*.
Explanation: During the Republic, ancestral portrait busts were a dominant feature in elite Roman households, prominently displayed in the entrance hall, or *atrium*, reflecting the Roman emphasis on family and ancestors.
How did Republican-era Roman portraiture generally differ from Imperial-era portraiture?
Answer: Republican portraits depicted physical imperfections and ruggedness, while Imperial portraits were more idealized.
Explanation: Republican-era Roman portraiture emphasized physical imperfections and a rugged appearance, reflecting character and experience, whereas Imperial-era portraiture generally moved towards more idealized depictions of emperors.
What does the bust of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus exemplify about Roman portraiture?
Answer: The 'warts and all' realism and individualized naturalism.
Explanation: The bust of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus is a prime example of the 'warts and all' realism and individualized naturalism that characterized Roman portraiture, particularly during the Republican period.
The Augustan *Ara Pacis* is considered a prime example of the state Greco-Roman style, blending classical influences with imperial themes.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *Ara Pacis*, dated 13 BCE, is indeed a highpoint of the state Greco-Roman style, showcasing a sophisticated blend of classical aesthetics and Roman imperial ideology.
Imperial coins and busts were crucial for disseminating the emperor's image and authority throughout the Roman Empire.
Answer: True
Explanation: Imperial coins and busts served as the primary visual forms of imperial propaganda, effectively disseminating the emperor's image and authority across the vast Roman Empire.
The frieze on the Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker is a small, typical example of the refined Greco-Roman style.
Answer: False
Explanation: The frieze on the Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker is highlighted as an unusually large example of the 'plebeian' style, not a typical refined Greco-Roman style.
The Ahenobarbus relief depicts Roman soldiers wearing Montefortino-style helmets and carrying *gladius* swords.
Answer: True
Explanation: A detail from the Ahenobarbus relief, dating to approximately 122 BC, explicitly shows Roman foot-soldiers equipped with Montefortino-style helmets and *gladius* swords, among other military gear.
Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius both commemorate military victories through continuous narrative reliefs.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius are monumental examples of Roman relief sculpture, featuring continuous narrative reliefs that commemorate significant military campaigns and victories.
Roman reliefs provide visual evidence of ancient technologies like ballistae and waterwheel-driven saws.
Answer: True
Explanation: Roman reliefs, including those on Trajan's Column and various sarcophagi, serve as invaluable visual records, illustrating ancient Roman technologies such as ballistae and waterwheel-driven saws, which are otherwise lost to history.
The Augustan *Ara Pacis*, dated 13 BCE, is considered a highpoint of what artistic style?
Answer: The state Greco-Roman style.
Explanation: The Augustan *Ara Pacis* (13 BCE) is recognized as a highpoint of the state Greco-Roman style, effectively blending classical influences with imperial themes to convey Augustan ideology.
What was the primary visual form of imperial propaganda throughout the Roman Empire?
Answer: Imperial coins and busts sent to provincial city basilicas.
Explanation: Imperial coins and busts, distributed widely across the empire, served as the primary visual medium for imperial propaganda, effectively disseminating the emperor's image and authority.
Which of the following is highlighted as an unusually large example of the 'plebeian' style in Roman sculpture?
Answer: The frieze on the Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker.
Explanation: The frieze on the Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker, dating from around 50-20 BC, is specifically noted as an unusually large and significant example of the 'plebeian' style in Roman sculpture.
According to the Ahenobarbus relief, what type of helmet did Roman foot-soldiers wear around 122 BC?
Answer: Montefortino-style helmets.
Explanation: A detail from the Ahenobarbus relief, dated to approximately 122 BC, clearly depicts Roman foot-soldiers wearing Montefortino-style helmets, providing specific visual evidence of military equipment from that period.
What historical events are commemorated by the continuous narrative reliefs on Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius, respectively?
Answer: The Dacian Wars and the Marcomannic Wars.
Explanation: Trajan's Column commemorates the Dacian Wars, while the Column of Marcus Aurelius depicts scenes from the Marcomannic Wars, both utilizing continuous narrative reliefs to immortalize these significant military campaigns.
Roman reliefs, such as those on Trajan's Column, provide visual evidence for what aspect of ancient Roman life?
Answer: Lost Roman technologies like ballistae and waterwheel-driven saws.
Explanation: Roman reliefs, particularly those on monumental structures like Trajan's Column, offer invaluable visual documentation of ancient Roman technologies that are otherwise lost, such as ballistae and waterwheel-driven saws for cutting stone.
What specific technological advancement, now lost, is illustrated in Roman reliefs according to the source?
Answer: Waterwheel-driven saws for cutting stone.
Explanation: Roman reliefs provide visual evidence of lost technological advancements, specifically illustrating the use of waterwheel-driven saws for cutting stone, as well as ballistae and harvesting machines.
Surviving ancestral masks from Roman great families provide direct evidence of their funeral traditions.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Roman great families had a tradition of ancestral masks worn in funeral processions, none of these masks have survived to provide direct evidence; extant portrait busts are believed to represent these figures.
Roman marble sarcophagi became common primarily in the 1st century BCE, coinciding with a shift towards cremation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Roman marble sarcophagi became common from the 2nd to the 4th century CE, reflecting a shift *from* cremation *to* inhumation, not coinciding with a shift towards cremation.
'Attic' style sarcophagi were designed to rest against a wall, leaving one side uncarved.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'Roman' style sarcophagi were designed to rest against a wall with one uncarved side, whereas 'Attic' style sarcophagi were carved on all four sides.
Roman sarcophagi commonly depicted scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as everyday life.
Answer: True
Explanation: Roman sarcophagi frequently featured intricate reliefs depicting scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, mystery religions, and various aspects of daily life, including games, hunting, and military activities.
What was the tradition of ancestral masks in Roman great families?
Answer: They were worn in funeral processions and displayed in the home, though none have survived.
Explanation: Roman great families maintained a tradition of ancestral masks, which were utilized in funeral processions and exhibited within the home, though no actual masks have survived to the present day.
When did Roman marble sarcophagi primarily become common, and what burial custom shift did this reflect?
Answer: 2nd to 4th century CE, reflecting a shift from cremation to inhumation.
Explanation: Roman marble sarcophagi became common primarily from the 2nd to the 4th century CE, indicating a significant shift in Roman burial customs from cremation to inhumation.
What was a key difference between 'Roman' style sarcophagi and 'Attic' style sarcophagi?
Answer: Roman style was uncarved on one side, Attic style carved on all four.
Explanation: A key distinction between 'Roman' and 'Attic' style sarcophagi is that 'Roman' styles were typically uncarved on one side, designed to rest against a wall, while 'Attic' styles featured carvings on all four sides.
What does the statue known as 'Venus in a bikini' from Pompeii depict?
Answer: Aphrodite untying her sandal with a small Eros figure.
Explanation: The statue popularly known as 'Venus in a bikini' from Pompeii actually depicts Aphrodite, her Greek counterpart, in the act of untying her sandal, accompanied by a small Eros figure.
What did the abundance of small bronze statuettes and ceramic figurines in Roman provinces indicate?
Answer: Their use for votive offerings or private devotional displays in homes and shrines.
Explanation: The widespread presence of small bronze statuettes and ceramic figurines, particularly in Roman provinces, suggests their continuous use for votive offerings or private devotional displays in domestic and local shrine settings.
What types of scenes were commonly depicted on Roman sarcophagi?
Answer: Scenes based on Greek and Roman mythology, mystery religions, and everyday life.
Explanation: Roman sarcophagi commonly featured intricate reliefs depicting a diverse range of scenes, including those from Greek and Roman mythology, mystery religions, and aspects of daily life such as games, hunting, and military activities.
The 3rd century CE saw Roman art return to a highly classical and graceful sculptural tradition.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the 3rd century CE, Roman art largely abandoned the classical tradition, developing a new style characterized by stumpy, large-eyed figures and harsh frontal depictions, emphasizing power over grace.
The Arch of Constantine is notable for its consistent use of the new 3rd-century anti-classical sculptural style throughout its design.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Arch of Constantine is notable for combining sections in the new, less classical style with older, re-used Greco-Roman roundels, illustrating a contrast rather than consistent use of a single style.
Ernst Kitzinger characterized the new anti-classical style by its emphasis on graceful modeling and classical proportions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ernst Kitzinger characterized the new anti-classical style by its 'emphatic hardness, heaviness and angularity,' and a rejection of classical traditions, not by graceful modeling or classical proportions.
The adoption of Christianity in the Roman state led to a flourishing of large religious sculptures for various deities.
Answer: False
Explanation: The adoption of Christianity led to the end of large religious sculpture, with grand statues primarily reserved for emperors, rather than a flourishing for various deities.
The *Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus* is an example of a simple, early Christian sarcophagus with minimal decoration.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus* (c. 359) is cited as an example of an *elaborate* Christian sarcophagus, featuring detailed scenes from the Life of Christ within an architectural framework.
The boxwood relief from the early 5th century AD depicts a Roman emperor receiving tribute from conquered lands.
Answer: False
Explanation: The boxwood relief from the early 5th century AD depicts the liberation of a besieged city by a relief force, not an emperor receiving tribute.
How did Roman art in the 3rd century CE generally shift in sculptural style?
Answer: It largely abandoned the classical tradition for stumpy, large-eyed figures and harsh frontal depictions.
Explanation: In the 3rd century CE, Roman art underwent a significant stylistic shift, largely abandoning the classical tradition in favor of a new style characterized by stumpy, large-eyed figures, harsh frontal depictions, and an emphasis on power rather than classical grace.
The Arch of Constantine famously illustrates the contrast between old and new sculptural styles by doing what?
Answer: Combining sections of the new style with older, re-used Greco-Roman roundels.
Explanation: The Arch of Constantine uniquely demonstrates the stylistic transition in Roman sculpture by integrating sections carved in the new, anti-classical style with older, re-used Greco-Roman roundels taken from earlier monuments.
According to Ernst Kitzinger, what was a hallmark of the new anti-classical style of Roman sculpture?
Answer: Emphatic hardness, heaviness, and angularity.
Explanation: Ernst Kitzinger characterized the new anti-classical style of Roman sculpture by its 'emphatic hardness, heaviness and angularity,' representing a significant departure from classical traditions.
How did the adoption of Christianity impact the production of large religious sculpture in the Roman state?
Answer: It resulted in the end of large religious sculpture, with grand statues reserved primarily for emperors.
Explanation: The adoption of Christianity in the Roman state led to a cessation of large religious sculpture, with monumental statues thereafter being predominantly reserved for imperial figures.
Which of the following is an example of a colossal imperial statue from the late Roman Empire?
Answer: The Colossus of Barletta.
Explanation: The Colossus of Barletta, dating from the 4th or 5th century CE, is cited as an example of a colossal imperial statue from the late Roman Empire, alongside fragments of an acrolithic statue of Constantine.
What forms of sculpture did rich Christians continue to commission after the decline of large religious statues?
Answer: Reliefs for sarcophagi and very small ivory sculptures.
Explanation: After the decline of large religious statues, wealthy Christians continued to commission reliefs for sarcophagi, such as the *Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus*, and very small ivory sculptures, maintaining a tradition of luxury small-scale art.
What was the most common form of early Christian sculpture?
Answer: The sarcophagus.
Explanation: The sarcophagus quickly became the most prevalent form of early Christian sculpture, evolving from simple designs to elaborate fronts depicting scenes from the Life of Christ.
What does the boxwood relief from the early 5th century AD depict?
Answer: The liberation of a besieged city by a relief force.
Explanation: The boxwood relief from the early 5th century AD, originating from the Western Roman Empire, depicts a dynamic scene of a besieged city's liberation by a relief force, with defenders simultaneously launching a sortie.
The 'Great Cameo of France' depicts a scene of Roman military conquest, emphasizing imperial power.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Great Cameo of France' depicts an allegory of Augustus and his family, not a scene of military conquest.
What does the 'Great Cameo of France' primarily depict?
Answer: An allegory of Augustus and his family.
Explanation: The 'Great Cameo of France,' a high-quality cameo gem from around 23 CE, primarily depicts an elaborate allegory of Emperor Augustus and his family.