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 Etruscan sarcophagus lid shows a man and his wife sitting up in bed as if they are expecting company. Their arms are extended beckoning visitors to come near and their faces are pointing foward like a portrait. The man and wife appear to have their attention drawn away from each other and onto something external. This sarcophagus feels as though it was meant for public display. It has a idealized "Christmas card" feel to it that exhibits very little intimancy. The Roman sacophagus looks much more intimate. The Roman man and wife do not look as if they are aware they are being sculpted. They are more relaxed than the Etruscans and their hands are in more natural positions. The man and woman are looking inward , each occupying the other attention. Although the sacophagus was meant for public display, it depicts the two Romans in a private moment.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman sculture looks more relaxed and at ease. They appear to be intimate with one another not worrying about anything else. The Etruscan sarcophagus looks like two people very happy and at comfortable. These two on the sarcophagus seem to be expecting people are are delighted they are coming. Both scultures are very unique in the sense that the first one has two people relaxed and lying down under what appears to be sheets where as the second one people are sitting up on what will very well be there final laying place.
ReplyDeleteThe Etruscan sarcophagus does appear to have a more public display than the Roman sarcophagus. The figures are posed in an upright position. They seem attentive and the woman even seems to be opening her arms in a welcoming manor. The Roman models seem to be enjoying a private moment. While both are lounging on the couch, the Romans seem to be reclined in a more relaxed fashion. They are also gazing upon each other instead of out at the viewer.
ReplyDeleteThe etruscan sarcaphagus displays a more public appearance and seems more welcoming and inviting. The woman's arms are stretched out foward and they seem more open and attentive toward others. The estrucan's art shows that their attitude and idea of death was not one of peril. They strongly believed in the afterlife and their art was heavily influenced by the egytptians. The Romans' art is more elegant and asthetic is concerned with image and the way people look. As seen above, the couple in the sculpture seems to be enjoying a more private and intimate moment. The couple are enjoying one another's time and are more relaxed.Their body language and the way they are positioned shows that their attention is toward each other not toward others.
ReplyDeleteBoth sculptures have a warm way about them, however, the Etruscan sarcaphagus has a stronger, more public display. Neither the man, nor the woman are looking at each other. Whereas the Roman sculpture the man and the woman are gazing at each other. The Etruscan piece gives off a welcome feeling with the womans arms stretching out. The way the Roman sculpture is more intimate and warm is by the draping of their clothing, as opposed to the Etruscan garb which has very little texture and feels cold and less personal. The Roman couple look "in love" while the Estruscan couple seem more welcoming.
ReplyDeleteThe Etruscan sarcophagus appears to be more for public display than that of the Roman one. The Etruscan sarcophagus has the man and woman looking outward with arms extended allowing for a very welcoming emotion. The Roman sculpture is more drawn in with the man and woman very much focused on each other and not their surroundings. It puts off a more intimate and warm emotion rather than one that would draw people in to it. Two sculptures made for the same reason, but both have a different emotion about them making the reason either stand out or not.
ReplyDeleteThe Etruscan seems to be much moe public as they are not facing eachother but to the public. In the Roman sculpture the husband and wife are looking at eachother creating an intimate atmosphere between the two. The Romans visualized a lot of theirideas from the Greeks, which can be seen through the use of drapery. The Roman couples are slouched over as if in their homes, enjoying the company of one another. Whereas the Etruscans have are sitting up, almost uncomfortably, as though they are posing for the onlookers.Both pieces show a positive relationship with their spouses.
ReplyDeleteThe Etruscan sarcophagus shows a man and woman sitting upright with palms up, as if they were welcoming company with their full attention, displaying a public appearance. The Roman lid shows a man and woman at attention with one another. The two figures display rested arms to the side and palms down, giving a closed and private appearance.
ReplyDeleteSamantha The Roman piece has a very intimate feel to it. From looking at it one could assume the two are lovers. It is obvious they are both lying close together on a couch. In fact, they are lying so closely together that it almost looks as though she is partially lying on top of him. The way the two are posed looks as though they are gazing into one another’s eyes. This kind of display probably would not have been seen in public without some contempt from others. The Etruscan piece, however, gives off a less intimate feel. They’re not posed in a way that could be considered as personal as the roman piece. In fact, it could be questioned whether they are lovers or maybe relatives. It looks as though they’re slightly apart, like they’re lying together but not overlapping. They’re also looking forward instead of at each other. This behavior may have been looked at as more appropriate in public than the pose in the roman piece.
ReplyDeleteI THINK THE FIRST PICTURE SHOWS MORE OF WHAT PRIVATE LIFE IS. THE SECOND PHOTO IS A BIT MORE OUT THERE SPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY FINISHED HER FACE. AS FAR AS THE FEELING FOR THE PRIVACY OF THE FIRST PHOTO THE LADY'S FACE WAS NOT FINISHED IT SEEMS AS HER AND HER HUSBAND WERE COVERED UP BY BLANKETS, THERE'S ALSO A LOT MORE DETAIL ON THE FIRST SCULPTURE THEN THE SECOND ONE. THE SECOND SCULPTURE THE COUPLE IS MORE OUT THERE THEY ARE SITTING UP AND THE WOMENS FACE IS ACTUALLY FINISHED, AND IT SEEMS THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE TOGETHER AND THERE NOT HIDING IT FROM THE PUBLIC. Alexis S
ReplyDeleteI think these two pieces exist in a public type of view to anyone who were to go visit the beloved one, or loved ones, inside the sarcophagus and display a very intimate connection between the two pairs of couple above. But the 2nd century AD Roman sarcophagus doesnt show as much intimacy as the other happier couple, more like it shows love in a broad type of way. Barbara T.
ReplyDeleteI believe the the sarcophagus was meant to immortalize the couple's by shamelessly displaying them in a passionate and intimate embrace. The artists of both pieces probably intended to show how true their love was. Its not that different from a couple sharing a plot and head stone nowadays. The only difference I could say would be that the Etruscan lid seems to be poised more to display to the public and the roman lid is more of a tribute to the relationship the couple shared by having the man and woman focusing only on each other.
ReplyDeleteThe top picture is showing a less public view. The man and women are laying relaxed on the couch like they are not really expecting any company. However, the bottom picture is showing a couple sitting up in the bed looking as if they are waiting for their company to walk in at any moment. They are showing feelings as if they are wanting the company however the top picture doesn't show that they are wanting company.
ReplyDeleteI think that both sarcophagus show how then husband and wife are affectionate to one another. I also believe that the Etruscan sarcophagus is more to represent the love for one another even in their private life. For the Roman sarcophagus, I believe that their lids were to show good face with the public in two main aspects of their life such as; their private life and also their political/professional lives.
ReplyDeleteThe Etruscan sarcophagus is a public look. The man and woman are sitting up with the hands out as if they are welcoming company. They are looking forward as to have their attention drawn to somthing else. The Roman one has a more imtimate look to it. The man and woman are looking at each other; although, the womans face is not finished.
ReplyDeleteI think that both of these images present a very affectionate situation. The individuals in each of the sculptures are openly revealing their emotions. The intimacy of both, however, are in a private setting. While the position of each sculpture brings about the possibility of openness,I think that both are private. The Roman couple seems to show a greater deal of privacy in their positions that the Greek. The Greek sculpture is suggesting invitation and openness while the Roman is completely personal. While each sculpture prominently displays a private setting I think they do so on separate levels.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman sarcophagus is far more detailed than the Etruscan sarcophagus. The Roman lid also more relaxed and realistic than that of the Etruscan. The Etruscan lid is made to sit up in and greet visitors in a warm, open way, but the way they sit up is in an awkward angle, while the Romans seem relaxed and in an angle that would be comfortable if they were actual people. Its obvious that the Etruscan is a more welcoming to the public and the Roman seems to be a private moment between a husband and wife. Also the Roman lid as animals and random nick knacks to add a sense of reality in the sculpture to ,in my opinion, give the impression that there is always more going on even though it is focused on the couple. I have been thinking on why the face is unfinished and maybe something happened as they were building this and she either shamed herself or did something to anger the family to remove her face.
ReplyDeleteTo me the two pieces both have private, and public feelings. Both show the couples love each other in life to death. But back in the old day roman period they didn't display love like the picture in public but in this time period we do. They both are great pieces of art and show great love to there parters.
ReplyDeleteBoth of the pieces of art here have both a sense of being private, and a sense of being public. The Etruscan piece seems to be much more private because of the position in which the people are set, and they are basically laying down almost as if they are getting ready to rest. Also the fact that the woman's face isn't sculpted all the way shows a sense of privacy because its almost like its being hidden. The Etruscan piece shows a bit of a public feel because a portion of the body can be seen and they look like they could be laying on a bench perhaps. The Roman piece has much more of a public feel because the people appear to be sitting, almost like on a bench in a park. Also both their faces are able to be seen clearly and this shows that nothing is being hidden about them. Also the Roman piece has both the people looking out towards the viewer which reduces the sense of privacy. The only thing i see in the Roman piece that conveys privacy is the fact that they are sitting together and appear to be under the same cover for their lower bodies. I think both pieces are equally aesthetic, just that they are different views on the same type of scene.
ReplyDeleteThese two images show more of a private display from the world. The woman was never finished on the first picture showing that they either wanted to protect or not reveal the features she had. While the second image the woman has been completed and is almost looking out at the rest of the world with her husband next to her. Both of the pieces communicate with a feeling of privacy they are both relaxing with their loved one on this bed or couch, even though they have been put on a public display. This might have been the first time intimate display was shown off as a part of every day life. Jeffrey Z.
ReplyDelete(Clint McGalliard) The Etruscan piece gives off a much more formal and proper vibe as if they are being watched by other people or are expecting guest. The Roman piece seems very opposite giving a very private and intimate feel as if they're enjoying only the company of each other.
ReplyDeleteAnthony W. Reading other people's comments on it they say a flute but I do not see that. It could be more meant as a person speaking to someone else telling the secrets of life. At the end, it says something about if message bearer that only the intended person should hear. It seems as if someone is speaking to someone they love.
ReplyDelete