The Empire Strikes Back

Description

Around the turn of the third century, Roman art began to move away from classical traditions. Some say the change indicates a civilization in decline, but in this program Alistair Sooke shows that the imperial style was actually invigorated at this time by ideas from the provinces. Sooke explores the site of Leptis Magna in Libya, where the Gladiator Mosaic raises an old art form to new heights, and admires indigenous influences in Roman British silver and glassware; then goes to Ravenna to see how Roman motifs live on in early Christian art. Works studied include the Portrait of Artemidorus, the Lycurgus Cup, Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, and others.

Runtime

60 min

Series

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

[2014], c2012

Database

Films on Demand

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