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The Ludovisi Sarcophagus Introduction Peoples history has been always connected with their culture. Every culture reflects the life, customs and traditions of people that create it. Examination of the works of art of different cultures or the cultures belonging to the same nation gives an opportunity to trace the historical events, the development of civilization. In this work we will examine the Ludovisi Sarcophagus The Ludovisi Sarcophagus shows us the late antique themes of imperial Roman culture.
It belongs to the Ludovisi Collection, which includes several sculptures, such as "Dying Gaul, The Ludovisi Sarcophagus and some other pieces of art. Identity Information. Ludovisi Sarcophagus, c. 250 - 60, marble, about 5 ' high. Besides, this is the largest Roman sarcophagus ever found. Original Location: Rome Today: Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome The style of Ludovisi Sarcophagus Many researchers and scientists try to fit the Roman works of art into a strict chronology of styles in order to identify the main stages of development of Roman culture. According to them, the style of Ludovisi Sarcophagus belongs to the Expressive Classicism.
Marble relief details of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus present us the scenes from the Battle of Romans and barbarians (251 AD). Separate details brightly portray cultural and historical landscapes (Swift 204). The front of the sarcophagus shows a battle scene between Roman soldiers and Germans. The Germans have distinctive clothing, beards, and hairstyles that distinguishes them from the clean shaven Romans The Roman on horse back in the center-top has been identified with Hostilian, son of the emperor Decius, who died in 252 A.
D. (The Grande Ludovisi Sarcophagus, n. p. ) The whole battle scene is an open complex of composition and an expressive chiaroscuro. Yet, some of figures are made in an entirely different style, more relaxed and floating, reminding us about the eternity. The scenes seem a challenge to symbolic interpretation. The sculptor aims to combine explanation and description of Roman history focusing attention on the battle between Romans and barbarians.
The sculptor shows that problems of Roman ancient history are closely related to more national problems. He is anxious about the Roman history: thats why he describes the most expressive scenes. In contrast to other sculptors, the author tries to show complicated ethical history of Rome: a multi-centennial story of the country. The work shows integrity of historical conditions and social development for Roman ethno's formation. Comprehension of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus against a background of historical events it presents us, gives us a possibility to interpret the battle scenes, depicted on the Ludovisi Sarcophagus as bright example of Roman history. The sculptor presents a good attempt to synthesize wide-ranging interpretations on examined theme.
More Detailed Examination of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus The sculpture is a prime example of the Battle sarcophagus genre, showing Barbarians being vanquished by Roman legions in a swirling mass of combat (The Myth of the Portrait 9). The Romans had a tradition to cremate the bodies of their dead. The ashes were usually put into special funerary urns. Later the Romans started to bury their dead through inhumation that, in its turn, lead to creation of peculiar new style of funerary art: marble sarcophagi, which were decorated by various details. In such a way, the Roman sculptors perfected the technique of cutting marble. Because the sarcophagus was usually placed on the floor backed up against a wall in the tomb chamber, its long back side was usually left undecorated (since nobody could see it).
Carving thus concentrated on the long front side of the coffin, with the short ends usually receiving only cursory treatment. (The Myth of the Portrait 8). The Ludovisi Sarcophagus is well-known for its compositional emphasis on the human figure. One of the most effective sculpture techniques the sculptor uses to involve the people into his historical world is the use of details. The sculptor allows the viewer to see more in the Roman history than anyone can. The viewer is constantly led towards a reflection; he is lost in his thoughts, involving within the sculpture. The expressive elements in the whole composition and figure style are amazing.
We find the congestion, the absence of background and the suggestion of spiritual excitement by means of an airless super-objectivity (Hinks 184) This is the scene of action: Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus showing Hostilian battling Goths (influenced by Hellenistic Baroque) (visit. uga. edu website, n. p. ) The battle scene shows the physical presence of the picture surface, however, some details call the reality of the sculpture itself into question. Visual consequences are clearly realized by the artist in the marked foreshortening of the figures, that is, in their noticeably stubby proportions, oversized heads, lack of articulation (Swift 151).
The whole sculpture does not claim to a detailed historical approach, it rather reckons on his viewers knowledge. The aim, evidently, is to provide much more rounded picture of Roman history, focusing attention on the favourite theme: the battle scenes. This is the detailed picture of Goth. Some researchers claim that the obsessive privileging and foregrounding of the human figure is a bright example of Roman sculpture. I consider that such characterization holds true for Ludovisi Sarcophagus we examine. We can see the smallest details in Goths face, the expression of his face, opened mouth, the eyes that seem to express the pain and the feeling of despair Elegant harmonic features balance the dominating battle character of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus.
The sculptor presents us principle of composing by surface texture rather than by the co-ordination of masses or the rhythmic organisation of lines (Hinks 195) It is generally known that Greek culture has influenced a lot the Roman one. This influence can be traced in architect too. Despite of some common features with the Greek pieces of sculpture, which prove the influence of Greek culture, the Ludovisi Sarcophagus has its own peculiarities. On the one hand it proves that Roman culture was influenced by Greek, on the other hand it shows that Roman culture used not only Greek elements but tendencies of other cultures too and thus created its own unique style (Colle 109).
Although the Ludovisi Sarcophagus was created in 250 - 60 AD, it seems that it takes its origins long before this date. However, this is an erroneous impression that inevitably arises when you realize the majesty and perfection of its details. The Sarcophagus had a significant meaning at the time it was build. The sculptor presents us a timeline of Roman Empire and describes this historical review in an interesting manner.
The sculptor resolved problem both formally and stylistically: he found simple features that equally empathize both ethical notes of chronicles and authors historic-cultural constructions. The combination of detailed sculpture and simple techniques are very difficult for the sculpture, but the creator of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus succeeded in finding it. He managed to give the idea of chronicles without any excessive stylization. Yet, historic and cultural constructions are mixed together without any primitivism. The secret of his style is, probably, in reserve along with high internal intension. Ancient people believed that they depended a lot on the gods, so it was very important to please them even after the death.
For this purpose people built beautiful sarcophagus (the Ludovisi Sarcophagus studied in this work can serve a wonderful example of the beauty of such sarcophagus). My Evaluation of the Ludovisi Sarcophagus. I like the art a lot. I have traveled around the Europe and have seen a lot of works of art. I always admire the works of sculptors, artists and other talented people. They managed to express themselves and the history and the culture of their country.
Of course, I cant judge this work as the experts do, but I can appreciate it due to what feelings it arises in me, what it makes me think about and what associations it brings up. Sometimes it makes me think about the personal fate of, for example, an artist, or to think about its country on the whole. The Ludovisi Sarcophagus arouses an excitement in me. I admire the sculptor (s) who create it, as they managed to reproduce the culture and traditions of Roman peoples.
Due to him we know about the Roman battles, so we can learn about significant part of Roman culture and also what were the main fields of life of ancient people. But the Ludovisi Sarcophagus excites me not only from historical point of view. It also gives an esthetic pleasure. The sculptors created the sarcophagus that still excites the imagination of modern people.
The majestic details show that there is something eternal, something really important in our life. All this proves that the Ludovisi Sarcophagus is a real work of art. Their details, bas-reliefs, small sculptures cant leave anybody untouched. Conclusion It is very difficult to judge this work of art so as to choose better explanation why do I like it. The Ludovisi Sarcophagus is very beautiful and reflects the life of people. It touches my soul.
I like its majestic features and details. They came out of past and bear some mystery of that days. The creator of The Ludovisi Sarcophagus was really talented man, because he managed to create the sculpture that has survived till our days. Bibliography: Cole, Bruce. (1991).
Piero Della Francesca: Tradition and Innovation in Renaissance Art. Icon Editions Hinks, Roger. (1962). Carolingian Art: A Study of Early Medieval Painting and Sculpture in Western Europe. University of Michigan Press Janson, H. W. (1959). Key Monuments of the History of Art: A Visual Survey.
Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus. Retrieved November 25, 2005. < web > Swift, Emerson H. (1951). Roman Sources of Christian Art. Columbia University Press: New York The Grande Ludovisi Sarcophagus. Retrieved November 25, 2005. web The Myth of the Portrait.
Retrieved November 25, 2005. < web >
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