A new BBC TV series, Treasures of Ancient Rome, takes an in-depth look at Roman art and dismisses the notion that the Ancient Romans were mere copycats.
In a three-part series shown on BBC Four, leading British art critic Alastair Sooke aims to debunk the myth that the Romans only imitated the art of the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Ancient Greeks. He examines the precept held by some scholars that the Romans simply plundered ideas, reserving their creative talents for feats of engineering and military campaigns.
Sooke takes viewers on a journey around the old Empire that reveals Roman artists and craftsmen’s originality and skill as well as their impact on art history. He illustrates how the use of geometry and symbolism in the Late Empire influenced Byzantine and medieval art. The show examines Roman influence on portraiture in its depictions of major figures such as Julius Caesar and Cicero both in sculpture and painting, and how Emperor Augustus used art as propaganda.
Treasures featured in the series include triumphal and sacred art like Trajan’s Column and the Pantheon in Rome. The presenter also travels beyond Italian shores following in the footsteps of the Roman legions to visit the ancient city of Leptis Magna in Libya and scour museums across Europe that house Roman artefacts.
Sooke aims to show another side to the once mighty Empire, saying: “Anyone who believes that Roman art is the stuff of boring marble busts should think again.”.
For information regarding the show and broadcast time check the BBC website.
