Question

Anyone help? The Romans loved all things Greek. They adopted Greek religion practically wholesale (changing the names of the gods and goddesses but little else!), and imported Greek vases and sculptures enthusiastically. The Romans were also influenced by the art of the Etruscans, who had ruled the Tuscan peninsula for centuries before the Romans came to power. Please choose a work of Roman painting or sculpture from Chapter 6. How do you see in this work the influence either of ancient Greek or Etruscan art? Does the Roman work differ in any way? Use what you know about the Greek's interests, and what you read about Etruscan art in the first part of this chapter.

Answer 1

One example of a Roman sculpture that displays influences from both Greek and Etruscan art is the Capitoline Wolf, which depicts a she-wolf suckling the mythical twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

The overall composition of the sculpture, with the wolf in a seated position and the two infants at her feet, is reminiscent of earlier Greek depictions of goddesses and their divine offspring. The style of the sculpture, with its emphasis on naturalism and detailed rendering of fur and muscle, also reflects the Greek tradition.

At the same time, the use of bronze in the Capitoline Wolf is typical of Etruscan art, which had a long tradition of metalworking. The Etruscans were also known for their depictions of animals, which often had symbolic significance, and the Capitoline Wolf may have originally been created by an Etruscan artist.

Despite these influences, the Capitoline Wolf also has some distinctively Roman elements. The sculpture was created during the Roman Republic, and it may have been commissioned to commemorate a military victory or to celebrate Rome's status as a major power. The wolf itself may have been intended to symbolize the nurturing and protective qualities of the Roman state, while the depiction of Romulus and Remus emphasized the importance of Rome's legendary origins.

Overall, the Capitoline Wolf is a fascinating example of how Roman art incorporated elements from both Greek and Etruscan traditions, while also reflecting the distinctive values and concerns of Roman society.