Roman Architecture Course

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 14 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner analyzes the major public architectural commissions of the emperor Trajan in Rome. Distinguished by their remarkably ambitious scale, these buildings mimic Trajan’s expansion of the Roman Empire to its furthest reaches. Professor Kleiner begins with Trajan’s restoration of the […]

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 13 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner investigates the major architectural commissions of the emperor Domitian, the last Flavian emperor. She begins with the Arch of Titus, erected after Titus’ death by his brother Domitian on land previously occupied by Nero’s Domus Transitoria. The Arch celebrated

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 12 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner features the tumultuous year of 68-69 when Rome had four competing emperors. Vespasian emerged the victor, founded the Flavian dynasty, and was succeeded by his sons, Titus and Domitian. The Flavians were especially adept at using architecture to shape

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 11 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner features the architecture of Augustus’ successors, the Julio-Claudian emperors, whose dynasty lasted half a century (A.D. 14-68). She first presents Tiberius’ magnificent Villa Jovis on the Island of Capri and an underground basilica in Rome used by members of

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 10 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner explores sepulchral architecture in Rome commissioned by the emperor, aristocrats, successful professionals, and former slaves during the age of Augustus. Unlike most civic and residential buildings, tombs serve no practical purpose other than to commemorate the deceased and consequently

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 9 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner discusses the transformation of Rome by its first emperor, Augustus, who claimed to have found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble. The conversion was made possible by the exploitation of new marble quarries

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 8 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner discusses special subjects in Roman wall painting that do not fall within the four architectural styles but were nonetheless inserted into their wall schemes: mythological painting, landscape, genre, still life, history painting, and painted portraiture. The lecture begins with

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 7 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner discusses the development of Third Style Roman wall painting in late first century B.C. villas belonging to the imperial family and other elite patrons. Third Style painting, as Professor Kleiner demonstrates, is characterized by departure from the perspectival vistas

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 6 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner discusses domestic architecture at Herculaneum and the First and Second Styles of Roman wall painting. The lecture begins with an introduction to the history of the city of Herculaneum and what befell some of its inhabitants when they tried

By Diana E E Kleiner | Roman Architecture Lecture 5 of 24 Lecture Description Professor Kleiner discusses domestic architecture at Pompeii from its beginnings in the fourth and third centuries B.C. to the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79. She describes the plan of the ideal domus italica and features two residences that conform to