The Etruscans. Three periods of Etruscan History: Three periods of Etruscan History: Villanovan Period – 9 th -8 th centuries BCE – similar to Greek Geometric

The EtruscansThe Etruscans

The Etruscans The Etruscans

Three periods of Etruscan History:Three periods of Etruscan History:Villanovan Period – 9Villanovan Period – 9thth -8 -8thth centuries centuries

BCE – similar to Greek Geometric BCE – similar to Greek Geometric Period in artPeriod in art

Orientalizing Phase – 750 – 575 BCE – Orientalizing Phase – 750 – 575 BCE – Etruscans reach height of their powerEtruscans reach height of their power

Archaic Period – 550 – 350 BCE – Archaic Period – 550 – 350 BCE – Coincides with Greek Archaic Period; Coincides with Greek Archaic Period; heavy Greek influence; most artwork heavy Greek influence; most artwork from this periodfrom this period


The Etruscans are the first historic people The Etruscans are the first historic people in Italyin Italy

Etruscan writing has still not been Etruscan writing has still not been deciphereddeciphered

Etruscan religion was very similar to Etruscan religion was very similar to Egyptian and Greek; they were polytheistic Egyptian and Greek; they were polytheistic and shared same gods as the Greeks but and shared same gods as the Greeks but they had a strong belief in the afterlife like they had a strong belief in the afterlife like the Egyptiansthe Egyptians

Most Etruscan art is funereal. Most Etruscan art is funereal.


Etruscan Art characteristics:Etruscan Art characteristics:Heavy use of bronze and terracottaHeavy use of bronze and terracottaHumans not always in proportion – Humans not always in proportion –

not concerned with ideal formsnot concerned with ideal formsMany mythological themes: animals, Many mythological themes: animals,

heroes, and godsheroes, and godsMost art is related to funerals, tombs Most art is related to funerals, tombs

and after life themesand after life themes


Apollo of VeiiApollo of Veii 66thth century BCE century BCE Veii, ItalyVeii, Italy SculptureSculpture Done in terracotta, Done in terracotta,

easily sculpted but easily sculpted but also delicatealso delicate

Masterpiece of Masterpiece of Etruscan ArtEtruscan Art

From top of temple From top of temple


Portrait of a BoyPortrait of a Boy 300-100 BCE300-100 BCE Chiusi, ItalyChiusi, Italy SculptureSculpture Boy appears to be Boy appears to be

looking away towards looking away towards a far away landa far away land

Etruscans were Etruscans were famous for their famous for their bronze work done in bronze work done in the lost wax methodthe lost wax method

The EtruscansThe Etruscans Capitoline BrutusCapitoline Brutus 300 BCE300 BCE Rome, ItalyRome, Italy SculptureSculpture Considered to be done Considered to be done

by Etruscan artists who by Etruscan artists who were skilled in bronze were skilled in bronze work although it work although it represents a famous represents a famous RomanRoman

An early hero of the An early hero of the Republic, not the same Republic, not the same person who killed Julius person who killed Julius CaesarCaesar


L’Arringatore (The L’Arringatore (The Orator)Orator)

Early 1Early 1stst Century BCE Century BCE Perugia?? ItalyPerugia?? Italy SculptureSculpture Aulus Metellus is the Aulus Metellus is the

name of the manname of the man Although the work is Although the work is

Etruscan, the style Etruscan, the style and clothing are and clothing are completely Romancompletely Roman

Etruscan ArtEtruscan Art

Etruscan Temple Etruscan Temple ReconstructionReconstruction

77thth century BCE century BCE Throughout Etruria, Throughout Etruria,

central Italycentral Italy ArchitectureArchitecture This is an artist This is an artist

reconstruction – based reconstruction – based on descriptions from on descriptions from Roman sources, coins Roman sources, coins and tomb paintingsand tomb paintings

Note only one entrance Note only one entrance and on a pedimentand on a pediment

Tumulus

7th to 2nd centuries B.C.E.

Cerveteri, Italy

Architecture

Etruscan tombs resembled homes and businesses in many details


Tomb of the ReliefsTomb of the Reliefs 33rdrd Century BCE Century BCE Cerveteri, ItalyCerveteri, Italy Architecture/Relief Architecture/Relief

SculptureSculpture Richer people could Richer people could

afford sculpture in afford sculpture in their tombs – here is their tombs – here is the tomb of a the tomb of a blacksmith – note the blacksmith – note the reliefs of swords, reliefs of swords, armor, shields, etcarmor, shields, etc


Tomb of Hunting Tomb of Hunting and Fishingand Fishing

520 BCE520 BCE Tarquinia, ItalyTarquinia, Italy Architecture/Architecture/

paintingpainting Interior of tomb Interior of tomb

from necropolis – from necropolis – continued belief in continued belief in similarity in life similarity in life and after lifeand after life


Sarcophagus of Sarcophagus of Married CoupleMarried Couple

520 BCE520 BCE Cerveteri, ItalyCerveteri, Italy SculptureSculpture Made of terracotta, Made of terracotta,

coffin of a married coffin of a married couple – Etruscans couple – Etruscans believed after life believed after life was same as this was same as this lifelife


She- WolfShe- Wolf 500 BCE500 BCE Rome, ItalyRome, Italy SculptureSculpture Typical Etruscan Typical Etruscan

example of bronze example of bronze animals – the twins animals – the twins were added in the were added in the Renaissance – this Renaissance – this is now the symbol is now the symbol of the city of Romeof the city of Rome

Etruscan Art Etruscan Art

Etruscan Art - TombsEtruscan Art - Tombs


The end . . . The end . . . Next Lecture …Next Lecture …The RomansThe Romans

Documents

The Etruscans. Three periods of Etruscan History: Three periods of Etruscan History: Villanovan Period – 9 th -8 th centuries BCE – similar to Greek Geometric