Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations compared

Ancient Greek & Ancient Roman Art

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It would probably be quite fair to say that Roman art has a "heavy" Greek influence -- in almost every way one might consider the different forms of art. It is difficult to find an article that doesn't mention this influence. And, in many cases, it would not be unreasonable to say that some Roman art and sculpture looks as if it is copied from the Greek. One cannot help but come to the conclusion that perhaps the Greeks were the creative ones.

Greek sculptors were seeking the ideal artistic form while it would seem that, for the most part, Roman artists were set on painting and sculpting decorative and realistic portraits.

During the Greek Hellenistic period in the early 300s B.C., Greek art began spreading to other lands in conjunction with Alexander the Great traveling over and conquering almost all of the known world. These sculptures were much more intense such as the decorations for the Great Altar of Zeus at Pergamum. Violence of some sort was often depicted. Sculptures of the Roman period, not surprisingly, were very similar. Again, it is difficult to tell the difference between Greek Hellenistic sculptures and Roman originals. And what better influence of classic Greek sculpture and its ideal art form on Roman artists than Michelangelo's David. The Baroque period is exemplified by Bernini's work at the Vatican. However, in his fine work, one cannot mistake the influence of Greco-Roman myth such as his own version of "Apollo and Daphne."