How did Roman art and statues differ from Greek art and statues?

Answer 1

Greek and Roman art were similar. The Roman elites were deeply influenced by the Greeks and Greek art. Hence the term Geo-Roman art.

During the period of the Roman Republic Roman portraiture (sculpture (busts) emphasised middle-aged, battle-hardened men with wrinkles, creases in the neck and eyes, sagging necks, receding heir or bald heads, scars, warts, and pronounced noses and lips. They had lifelike forward gazes. It was distinct from Greek busts in that it gave an impression of the individual was powerful and its had a verist style (its realism was heightened). In the Late Republic, the rich liked to have decorative statues of Greek divine, mythical or heroic themes for their villas. The villa market blossomed in the first century BC. Some of these were statues made by Greek sculptors. The earliest ones (4th and 3rd century BC) were terracotta ones. Bronze and marble statues arrived as part of large scale spoils of war. Syracuse was besieged in 211 BC. By the final act of war against the Greeks, the sack of Corinth (146 BC), Rome had great collections of Greek statues. The villas were cramped with Greek statues. After 146 BC the supply of looted statues dwindled and rich Romans bought them in Greece or Roman reproductions which were replicas or variants of Greek originals or new creations based on Greek themes. The latter became the largest and more inventive production. As the supply of statues from Greece decreased, Roman reproductions flourished and expanded its repertoire and combined different Greek styles (Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic). In the period of rule by emperors there were idealised statues of the emperors in the Hellenistic style. Replicas of Greek Hellenistic statues of mythical scenes, mythological figures and gods became popular.

Architectural reliefs reached high quality in the 3rd century BC. Some early terracotta reliefs were comparable in quality to the Greek ones. They could be in Greek styles, but they represented historical themes, most connected to military concerns, while the Greek ones had allegorical themes. Thus, in their themes they were distinctively not Greek.

Early Roman wall paintings (frescoes) were originally similar to the Greek ones, but became distinctively Roman. Early Roman mosaics were in the First Style or 'Incrustation style, which is believed to have originated in Alexandria In the 3rs century BC. It tried to reproduce the look of masonry, particularity marble, with the use of rectangular panels and a colourful, patchwork of brightly painted faux-marble. The Second Style or 'architectural style' emerged in the Late Republic. It tried to create the impression of looking through a window by painting illusionistic images. It depicted fanciful architectural scenes of Greek palaces, scenes from Greek mythology and Themes of Hellenistic kings emerged. This style reflected the Hellenization of the Roman elites. The Third Style or 'Ornate Style' was popular in the first half of the 1st century AD. It used broad single colour (especially black or dark red) panels punctuated by minute, intricate details. The Fourth Style, 'Intricate Style', became popular in the mid-first century AD. It was a combination of the three previous styles. It had faux marble blocks along the base of the walls, naturalistic architectural scenes combined with the large flat planes of colour and slender architectural details. It also incorporates central panel pictures on a much larger scale than with a much wider range of themes, mythological, landscape and still images. According to Pliny the Elder it was developed by a eccentric, painter who decorated Nero's famous Golden Palace.

Early Roman mosaics where monochrome with borders depicting vegetal motives and Greek themes. Here were also monochrome mosaics punctuated by opus sectile (irregularly cut pieces on variously coloured marble). Some mosaics were while with central squares with mythological scenes. Over time, more themes from nature were introduced. Roman mosaic also displayed Greek influence, but were distinctively Roman.