What does Etruscan wall paintings tell us about Etruscan life? The Etruscan tomb paintings show that these people believed in an afterlife and that such decoration, along with the provision of grave goods from gold jewellery to dinner sets, somehow comforted and helped the deceased on their journey into that new and unknown world.
What is unique about Etruscan art?
One unusual field of pottery which became a particular Etruscan speciality was the creation of terracotta roof decorations. The idea went back to the Villanovan culture but the Etruscans went one step further and produced life-size figure sculpture to decorate the roofs of their temples.
What was the purpose of Etruscan art?
The art of the Etruscans falls into three categories: funerary, urban, and sacred. Because of Etruscan attitudes toward the afterlife, most of the art that remains is funerary. Characteristic achievements are the wall frescoes—painted in two-dimensional style—and realistic terra-cotta portraits found in tombs.
What was an important part of Etruscan life and afterlife?
Etruscan art and the afterlife Fortunately, though, the Etruscans cared very much about equipping their dead with everything necessary for the afterlife—from lively tomb paintings to sculpture to pottery that they could use in the next world.
Who were the Etruscans and explain why they were important?
The Etruscan civilization flourished in central Italy between the 8th and 3rd century BCE. The culture was renowned in antiquity for its rich mineral resources and as a major Mediterranean trading power. Much of its culture and even history was either obliterated or assimilated into that of its conqueror, Rome.
What was Etruscan painting made of?
Etruscans made works using impasto or unrefined red clay that would fire to black. This was used to make basic pottery for cooking and storage. Bucchero, a black burnished pottery was distinct to Etruscan art and used by the elite during banquets.
How did Etruscan art influence the Romans?
Etruscan influence on ancient Roman culture was profound. It was from the Etruscans that the Romans inherited many of their own cultural and artistic traditions, from the spectacle of gladiatorial combat, to hydraulic engineering, temple design, and religious ritual, among many other things.
How did the Etruscans view life after death?
The Etruscans believed that death was only the beginning and was the journey to the afterlife. Through the use of art and funerary practices, the Etruscans believed that the dead would not haunt mortals if they were pleased with their offerings to the afterlife.
What does the funerary art of the Etruscans tell us about their view of the afterlife?
The Etruscan tomb paintings show that these people believed in an afterlife and that such decoration, along with the provision of grave goods from gold jewellery to dinner sets, somehow comforted and helped the deceased on their journey into that new and unknown world.
For what type of artwork were the Etruscans best known?
The Etruscans were also well known for their terracotta freestanding sculpture and architectural reliefs. Etruscan funerary works, particularly sarcophagi and cinerary urns (96.9.
Why are the Etruscans important?
The Etruscans taught the Romans both engineering and building skills. They also decisively influenced the classical Roman architectural style. They also developed the economy of the city, for instance by draining the marshes adjacent to Rome.
What was life like for the Etruscan?
Etruscan Life and Culture Etruscans did not have a single king or emperor but lived in major cities with their own independent governments called city-states. There was also, for a few centuries, a league of 12 major Etruscan cities that worked together to govern Etruscan land and society.
What are the main features that characterize the Etruscan civilization?
Characteristic of their artistic achievements are the wall frescoes and realistic terra-cotta portraits found in their tombs. Their religion employed elaborately organized cults and rituals, including the extensive practice of divination.
When was Etruscan art created?
Etruscan art was produced by the Etruscan civilization in central Italy between the 10th and 1st centuries BC. From around 750 BC it was heavily influenced by Greek art, which was imported by the Etruscans, but always retained distinct characteristics.
How does Etruscan art differ from Roman art?
Etruscan art shows a number of ancient influences. The Etruscan literary tradition is mostly lost. Roman art can be subdivided into the following periods: Republican, Early Imperial, Late Imperial, and Late Antique. Roman architecture has a large public element and is influenced by Etruscan and Greek models.
What is Etruscan style?
Etruscan Style typically refers to 19th-century jewelry with design influences from Etrurian jewelry dating circa 7th to 3rd centuries BC. The jewelry is noted for granulation and applied filigree. Etruscan Revival Brooch.
What are the main features that characterize the Etruscan civilization?
Characteristic of their artistic achievements are the wall frescoes and realistic terra-cotta portraits found in their tombs. Their religion employed elaborately organized cults and rituals, including the extensive practice of divination.
Etruscan Civilization Art
The Etruscan civilization was comprised of the people of Etruria, a network of city-states that occupied large swathes of central Italy.
Etruscan Art Characteristics
The characteristics of Etruscan artwork reflect the polyglot nature of the culture's influences, thanks to its far-reaching relationships along ancient Mediterranean trade routes. Reliefs and sculptures cast in metal (especially bronze), proliferated amongst Etruscan households.
From Publishers Weekly
The pictures are amazing. It's too bad about the text. Not that archeologist Steingräber doesn't provide a thorough, if stodgily academic, tour of Etruscan wall painting in this large-scale art book.
About the Author
Stephan Steingräber is the editor of, and a contributing author to, Catalogo regionato della pittura etrusca.