A glazed crater with scenes of the deeds of Hercules from the Mithraeus between Via Statilia and Via Passalacqua (IV - V century) has reliefs that are little, but they seem to quit from the crater to underline the importance given to the deity of Hercules. The traditional care of proportion in Roman reliefs is disappearing, and technique is semplified.
A certain kind of pottery used for supplying of Rome was already used in the I century AD. These vases could contain much fruit, oil, vine, and wheat because of their exaggerated height.
The pillars and the plutei of the possible ambo of SS Cosma and Damian Church presented a big square which surrounded a smaller square. The second square surrounded a circle, and this last one surrounded a cross. This combination of geometrical forms can be meant as a symbol of the presence of God everywhere.
Frescos representing the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus were realized between the VII and the VIII century. Figures appear stylized (similar to the ones of the mosaics of Ravenna), but they have not an effect that could recall flight. However, these characters seem to follow a horizontal axes, so that they form a group.
During the period of Paleochristian art, pagan monuments were treated as quarries, and marble returned to be one of the most used stones. In the beginning, Byzantine style was emulated, but a true stylistic authonomy was reached between the end of the VIII century and the beginning of the IX one. Geometrical motifs were represented here too, but crosses got bigger, circles disappeared, and were substitued by concentrical squares in different positions. Spiral motifs were present too, but the crosses were greater than the other figures. They had to underline the absolute power of Church.
Cooking pottery was different from pottery used for market. It was smaller and it had a larger opening. The aim of the popes was allowing the power of ancient Rome to live again.
Angelo Viglioglia
No comments:
Post a Comment