ARCH OF ARCH OF CONSTANTINECONSTANTINE

this arch was this arch was built by Senate built by Senate decree to decree to commemorate commemorate Constantine’s Constantine’s victory over victory over Maxentius in Maxentius in 312-5 AD.312-5 AD.

arch is 21m high, 25.7 wide, 7.4 m deep. arch is 21m high, 25.7 wide, 7.4 m deep. the central archway is 11.5m high.the central archway is 11.5m high. the side archways are 7.4m high.the side archways are 7.4m high.

THE INSCRIPTIONTHE INSCRIPTION in the centre of the attic is a long in the centre of the attic is a long

inscription.inscription. ““dedicated to dedicated to

Constantine Constantine by the Senate by the Senate and and people of people of Rome after his Rome after his victory over the victory over the ‘tyrant’ ‘tyrant’ (Maxentius).”(Maxentius).”

BASIC FACTSBASIC FACTS

the arch stands near Colosseum.the arch stands near Colosseum. along the broad sides of the arch there is a along the broad sides of the arch there is a

façade of four columns on engaged bases façade of four columns on engaged bases what interests us is the wealth of what interests us is the wealth of

sculptural decoration taken from other sculptural decoration taken from other earlier monuments.earlier monuments.

this is called this is called cannibalisingcannibalising..

WHY DID HE ‘BORROW’ ART WHY DID HE ‘BORROW’ ART FROM PAST EMPERORS?FROM PAST EMPERORS?

to return to the image of a ‘Golden Age’ of Rome.to return to the image of a ‘Golden Age’ of Rome. to link him with the previous ‘great’ Emperors.to link him with the previous ‘great’ Emperors. display general ideas about Constantine’s display general ideas about Constantine’s

character and exploits.character and exploits. displays to the public Constantine’s qualities of displays to the public Constantine’s qualities of

pietaspietas and and virtus.virtus. to remind others about the virtues of traditional to remind others about the virtues of traditional

Roman religion.Roman religion. to compensate for a lack of skilled sculptors?to compensate for a lack of skilled sculptors?

CONSTANTINE TOOK PIECESCONSTANTINE TOOK PIECESFROM …….FROM …….

TrajanTrajan HadrianHadrian Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius

He did put some He did put some pieces on it himself pieces on it himself however.however.

FROM THE TIME OF TRAJANFROM THE TIME OF TRAJAN

in the main arch interior are four in the main arch interior are four large relief panels. These were large relief panels. These were originally part of a continuous battle originally part of a continuous battle frieze taken from Trajan’s Forum.frieze taken from Trajan’s Forum.

two are on the inner sides of the two are on the inner sides of the central archway. central archway.

the other two are at the top of the the other two are at the top of the east and west faces of the arch.east and west faces of the arch.

FROM THE TIME OF TRAJANFROM THE TIME OF TRAJAN

the eight statues of the eight statues of Dacian captives above Dacian captives above each of the columns.each of the columns.

one is completely one is completely restored.restored.

the others have had their the others have had their heads and hands heads and hands repaired.repaired.

they wear a felt hat, have they wear a felt hat, have shaggy beards and long shaggy beards and long trousers; these are all trousers; these are all signs of barbarians.signs of barbarians.

FROM THE TIME OF HADRIANFROM THE TIME OF HADRIAN eight medallions set in pairs over the side eight medallions set in pairs over the side

arches of the north and south sides.arches of the north and south sides. the medallions the medallions

commemorate commemorate Hadrian’s love Hadrian’s love of hunting and of hunting and his devotion to his devotion to the gods the gods associated associated with it. with it.

THE NORTH SIDE MEDALLIONS THE NORTH SIDE MEDALLIONS a boar hunt, a boar hunt, a sacrifice to a sacrifice to

Apollo, Apollo, a lion hunt, a lion hunt, a sacrifice to a sacrifice to

Hercules. Hercules.

THE SOUTH SIDE MEDALLIONSTHE SOUTH SIDE MEDALLIONS a scene of the hunting a scene of the hunting

party setting out, party setting out,

a sacrifice to Silvanus, a sacrifice to Silvanus, a bear hunt, a bear hunt, a sacrifice to Diana.a sacrifice to Diana.

four of the medallions four of the medallions represent the quality represent the quality of of VIRTUSVIRTUS = = courage, courage, determination, manliness, determination, manliness, endurance, violence, endurance, violence, physical fitness. physical fitness.

the other medallions the other medallions represent the quality of represent the quality of PIETASPIETAS = displaying the = displaying the proper respect to the gods. proper respect to the gods.

some of the heads have been replaced with those of some of the heads have been replaced with those of Constantine and his eastern co-ruler, Licinius.Constantine and his eastern co-ruler, Licinius.

the mood is serene, e.g.: the attendants seem the mood is serene, e.g.: the attendants seem unconcerned at Constantine killing the boar.unconcerned at Constantine killing the boar.

1.1. leaving for the hunt, leaving for the hunt, 2.2. the boar hunt, the boar hunt, 3.3. the bear hunt,the bear hunt,4.4. the lion hunt.the lion hunt.

1.1. sacrifices to Silvanus, sacrifices to Silvanus, 2.2. Diana, Diana, 3.3. Apollo, Apollo, 4.4. HerculesHercules

FROM THE TIME OF MARCUS FROM THE TIME OF MARCUS AURELIUSAURELIUS

in between the Dacian prisoners and above the in between the Dacian prisoners and above the side arches are eight rectangular relief panels.side arches are eight rectangular relief panels.

they commemorate they commemorate Marcus Aurelius’s Marcus Aurelius’s victories in eastern victories in eastern Europe and Europe and Germany. Germany.

Constantine’s heads Constantine’s heads are 18th century are 18th century restorations. restorations.

MARCUS AURELIUSMARCUS AURELIUS

on the northern faceon the northern face the Emperor is shown entering Rome,the Emperor is shown entering Rome, he is then shown leaving the city in the next panel,he is then shown leaving the city in the next panel, Constantine is then seen disturbing money to the Constantine is then seen disturbing money to the

people,people, finally in the far right panel a barbarian chief finally in the far right panel a barbarian chief

surrenders to him .surrenders to him .

MARCUS AURELIUSMARCUS AURELIUS

on the southern faceon the southern face

another barbarian chief another barbarian chief surrenders,surrenders,

prisoners are shown prisoners are shown being led to the being led to the Emperor,Emperor,

in the next panel Trajan in the next panel Trajan is seen addressing his is seen addressing his troops,troops,

in the last panel in the last panel Constantine conducts a Constantine conducts a sacrifice with them.sacrifice with them.

FROM CONSTANTINE’S TIMEFROM CONSTANTINE’S TIME

in the spandrels in the spandrels above the arches above the arches are winged are winged Victories, River Victories, River gods and gods and Seasons . Seasons .

the column bases the column bases have upright have upright Victories on the Victories on the front & barbarians front & barbarians captives on the captives on the side.side.

FROM CONSTANTINE’S TIMEFROM CONSTANTINE’S TIME two medallions on two medallions on

narrow east and narrow east and west sides west sides

the west shows the the west shows the personification of personification of the moon in its the moon in its chariots setting. chariots setting.

the east sides the east sides shows the shows the personification of personification of the sun rising on in the sun rising on in its chariot. its chariot.

FROM CONSTANTINE’S TIMEFROM CONSTANTINE’S TIME the long narrow friezes above the side arches the long narrow friezes above the side arches

represent the episodes in Constantine’s life that represent the episodes in Constantine’s life that led to his victory over Maxentius.led to his victory over Maxentius. on the north Constantine addresses his on the north Constantine addresses his

people (people (OratioOratio) in the Roman forum and ) in the Roman forum and distributes money to them (distributes money to them (DonatioDonatio).).

on the east shows Constantine entering on the east shows Constantine entering Rome victorious.Rome victorious.

the south shows the siege of Verona and the the south shows the siege of Verona and the battle of the Milvian bridge where Maxentius battle of the Milvian bridge where Maxentius died.died.

the west side may show Constantine leaving the west side may show Constantine leaving Milan.Milan.

THE SCULPTURETHE SCULPTURE

some heads (particularly Hadrian’s) have some heads (particularly Hadrian’s) have been re-cut to represent Constantine.been re-cut to represent Constantine.

some even have a nimbus (a ring of some even have a nimbus (a ring of splendour) cut around them.splendour) cut around them.

the few reliefs made for the monument are the few reliefs made for the monument are recognisable for their hasty workmanship, recognisable for their hasty workmanship, stiff formality and lack of workmanship.stiff formality and lack of workmanship.

HARMONY IS ACHIEVED BYHARMONY IS ACHIEVED BY depth of arch (7.4m) is the same as the height of the depth of arch (7.4m) is the same as the height of the

smaller arches.smaller arches. above the small arches, the extra inscriptions and above the small arches, the extra inscriptions and

decoration equals the height of the main archdecoration equals the height of the main arch the vault of the main arch begins at the same level as the vault of the main arch begins at the same level as

the top of the side arches.the top of the side arches. the curves of the roundels echo the curve of the the curves of the roundels echo the curve of the

archways.archways. the horizontal is stress by the lines of the entablature, the horizontal is stress by the lines of the entablature,

rectangular panels, and the column bases.rectangular panels, and the column bases.

‘‘ORATIO’ AS AN EXAMPLE OF ORATIO’ AS AN EXAMPLE OF CONSTANTINEAN ARTCONSTANTINEAN ART

shows (a damaged) Constantine in the middle of shows (a damaged) Constantine in the middle of a group of senators and officials. a group of senators and officials.

on either side of the ground level are a group of on either side of the ground level are a group of Roman citizens wearing tunics with another row Roman citizens wearing tunics with another row of heads behind them to indicate depth.of heads behind them to indicate depth.

some are talking among themselves and others some are talking among themselves and others are children.are children.

Constantine is central, raised above the others Constantine is central, raised above the others and the centre of attention.and the centre of attention.

drapery is rudimentary and not revealing of the drapery is rudimentary and not revealing of the body beneath with deep straight lines instead of body beneath with deep straight lines instead of curves.curves.