The political impact of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor on the ancient Mediterranean world, is well known. Less well known, though, is the lasting influence of this era on the visual arts throughout the Roman Empire. Explore the visual world of Augustan Rome by looking at the role of the arts in the Roman state and at the lives of ordinary people. We will review official monuments of the Empire and analyze what message these works hoped to convey and how successful they were. We will also consider visual evidence for ordinary Romans: who they were, what kind of art and architecture framed their public spaces, and the place of art in their private lives. NOTE: This is a hybrid course and will be offered simultaneously online via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent in advance of the first session to all students.
