Cleopatra and Rome

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:40:00 +0000

If you have a hankering to return to Art of the Ancient World 101, Diana Kleiner’s Cleopatra and Rome should more than satisfy your urge to crack open a textbook. If you’re looking for a thrilling window into the life of a pair of the world’s most infamous lovers, this may not be your best bet.

Traveling throughout Egypt in June inspired me to dive into this book to refresh myself on the nation’s history. Filled with visions of sunset sailing in Luxor, I hoped Cleopatra and Rome would take me back to a sailboat where the love between Marc Antony and Cleopatra blossomed. Instead I trudged my way through Kleiner's strong introduction to Roman and Egyptian art.

Much of the historical background reads like a monotonous section of the Bible where you have at least two full pages dedicated to: blah beget bleh who beget blech and so on and so forth. Lacking completely in the romanticism, and even possible intrigue, involved in the intermingling of the Roman and Egyptian empires through her affairs with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Cleopatra serves as a coincidental bridge between two cultures.

At first there is little artistic analysis; some is architectural, but even that is limited in comparison to the droning historical description. The photos have no cohesion with the written word—similar themes, but they feel disconnected because they’re not tied together on the page. About a hundred pages in, the reader starts to get more in-depth descriptions of the art and surface connections, but the author quickly settles into a much more balanced rhythm. The stronger integration in the later parts of the book really made all the difference for me. Though I understand the need to lay the historical foundation before diving into an integrated analysis, it felt too structured for my liking.

Perhaps it was simply because I was expecting fireworks and got sparklers instead, but the rich stories of Cleopatra and her empire failed to come across here. Expectations aside, the book sheds much light on the art of Egypt; it's just that some may prefer to read the Cliff’s Notes version.

Written by: Nicole Levitz, September 5th 2009

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples (10/19/2008 - 3/22/2009)

admin — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:21:00 +0000

National Gallery of Art

Washington, DC, USA

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples provides one with the sense of being transported to the area of Naples in the first century AD. The gateway to the exhibit is graced with a reproduction of a tile mosaic stating “cave canum” (beware of dog)—complete with a reproduction of a ferocious canine showing his teeth. The exhibit then moves forward to provide a glimpse of the lives of the people in this part of the world, rather than the images that we have become accustomed to seeing, which tend to focus on the infamous destruction that occurred at the hands of Vesuvius. This exhibit highlights the importance of Greek philosophy, art, and culture in harmony with all things Roman.

As evidenced by the more than 150 objects displayed, the inhabitants around the Bay of Naples were fond of the arts and beauty. Even the working class who lived within the city of Pompeii had courtyards, sculpture, and frescoes in their homes, and the elite also had homes that reflected their passion for all things luxurious. While Naples was a Greek colony for several hundred years, it was under Roman rule that the infrastructure of the city of Pompeii was established. As part of the Roman Empire, the city of Pompeii grew beyond its merchant roots and into a playground for the rich and famous of the time.

Yet the most important aspect of this lush and extensive exhibit is the awareness that women in the first century around the Bay of Naples were valued and valuable. In and of themselves, women were people of power and prestige. The female figure is presented as having a distinct and important place within the culture. This is evidenced by the number of ways that the feminine spirit is immortalized in this exhibit. Most notable is the depiction of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, who stands ready for whatever she may face. There is also an endearing depiction of the empress Livia and her son Tiberius, which is crafted to convey the power of a mother’s influence.

Even more impressive than the art itself depicting the value of all things female as pure, strong, and essential is the fact that this exhibit represents the collaborative efforts of the National Gallery of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici della Campania, and the Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei. Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples is a delight for the spirit and the senses.

Written by: Susan G. Reyes Vasquez, January 24th 2009

Roman art

Cleopatra and Rome

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples (10/19/2008 - 3/22/2009)