Comments on: Rome 2b http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rome-2b Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Wed, 23 May 2012 10:08:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/comment-page-1/#comment-157777 Brett Holman Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:47:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/#comment-157777 Thanks much for that, Chris. The bit about the idealised body makes sense. Thanks much for that, Chris. The bit about the idealised body makes sense.

]]> By: Chris http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/comment-page-1/#comment-157690 Chris Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:29:09 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/#comment-157690 In regards to the Roman Matron statue, Katie is not quite right. Yes, she is a Roman matron; her likeness to Marcia Furnilla is uncanny, especially in the hairstyle. However, this statue was by no means erected by a middle-class or freed family. Given that it is sculpted from high quality marble, it would have been too expensive for anyone but the aristocracy. The hair is also indicative of this, as she is likening herself to the women in the imperial family at the time. Her face is meant to depict only one thing: her face. This is veristic portraiture, displaying the deceased as she actually was in life, at least with regards to the face. The body, however, is idealized because it is that of a goddess, most likely Venus. Romans would syncretize their images with those of deities upon death in order to raise their own status. The statue itself may have been placed above her tomb, although certainly not in it. It could also have been displayed in a public space for all to see. In regards to the Roman Matron statue, Katie is not quite right. Yes, she is a Roman matron; her likeness to Marcia Furnilla is uncanny, especially in the hairstyle. However, this statue was by no means erected by a middle-class or freed family. Given that it is sculpted from high quality marble, it would have been too expensive for anyone but the aristocracy. The hair is also indicative of this, as she is likening herself to the women in the imperial family at the time.

Her face is meant to depict only one thing: her face. This is veristic portraiture, displaying the deceased as she actually was in life, at least with regards to the face. The body, however, is idealized because it is that of a goddess, most likely Venus. Romans would syncretize their images with those of deities upon death in order to raise their own status. The statue itself may have been placed above her tomb, although certainly not in it. It could also have been displayed in a public space for all to see.

]]> By: Katie http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/comment-page-1/#comment-121563 Katie Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:57:22 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/#comment-121563 I'll look for it! It's a shame it always comes down to money, but at least you're famous now :). I'll look for it! It's a shame it always comes down to money, but at least you're famous now :).

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/comment-page-1/#comment-120712 Brett Holman Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:41:17 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/#comment-120712 Thanks for that information, Katie! I did hope some classicist would come along and fill me in :) Rome is an easy city to photograph, so it's not much credit to me. But a pic I took of the Aurelian column is going to appear in a book published by OUP, which pleases my ego, I have to say! (I'm sure the fact that I didn't charge anything for it helped too ...) Thanks for that information, Katie! I did hope some classicist would come along and fill me in :)

Rome is an easy city to photograph, so it's not much credit to me. But a pic I took of the Aurelian column is going to appear in a book published by OUP, which pleases my ego, I have to say! (I'm sure the fact that I didn't charge anything for it helped too ...)

]]> By: Katie http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/comment-page-1/#comment-120588 Katie Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:02:02 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/24/rome-2b/#comment-120588 In regards to the Flavian matron statue: This would have been a funerary offering for the deceased woman, whose portrait serves as the face for this statue. In ancient Rome, it was customary for middle class families (and even freedmen) to erect such statues in commemoration of their wives and mothers. Her middle-aged, less-than-perfect face suggests that she was a good wife and mother, who took raising her children and managing her household seriously. The idealized body, however, is a way of alluding to her ability to bear many healthy children, and her ability to fulfill other wifely duties. These would have been placed within tombs that ran along places like the Appian Way, and would probably have only been seen by the family of the deceased. She is quite interesting, though! Your photos are fabulous and I really appreciated looking at them. Also, thank you for giving me an excuse to finally use my degrees for good; I majored in art history and classics as an undergrad, specializing in Roman sculpture. Thanks again for the images! In regards to the Flavian matron statue: This would have been a funerary offering for the deceased woman, whose portrait serves as the face for this statue. In ancient Rome, it was customary for middle class families (and even freedmen) to erect such statues in commemoration of their wives and mothers. Her middle-aged, less-than-perfect face suggests that she was a good wife and mother, who took raising her children and managing her household seriously. The idealized body, however, is a way of alluding to her ability to bear many healthy children, and her ability to fulfill other wifely duties. These would have been placed within tombs that ran along places like the Appian Way, and would probably have only been seen by the family of the deceased. She is quite interesting, though!

Your photos are fabulous and I really appreciated looking at them. Also, thank you for giving me an excuse to finally use my degrees for good; I majored in art history and classics as an undergrad, specializing in Roman sculpture. Thanks again for the images!

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