5. World Conquerors

(E.H.Gombrich/The Story of Art)

-Romans, Buddhists, Jews and Christians, first to fourth century AD

-ローマ人の道はすごい、あとアーチ状の建築を生み出したこともすごい

-ギリシアのヘレニズム文化で「理想化された美」が花開いたが、ローマ帝国と発展と各宗教の広まりの中で皇帝の肖像や自軍の勝利、教義上の重要なシーンを「正確に／わかりやすく示す、伝える」ことに重きが置かれるようになる（よって、技術的に後退したように見える）

-この「後退」は度重なる戦禍によってそれまでの技術が失われたためと見る向きがあるが、そもそも美術作品が作られる目的が変わったことが背景にある

-キリスト教の台頭で世界は新たな章へ

The most outstanding achievement of the Romans was probably in civil engineering. We all know about their roads, their aqueducts, their public baths. Even the ruins of these buildings still look extremely impressive. One feels like an ant when walking in Rome between these enormous pillars.(93)

The most important feature in Roman architecture, however, is the use of arches. This invention had played little or no part in Greek buildings though it may have been known to Greek architects.(...)The most wonderful of these buildings is the Pantheon or temple of all the gods.(...)There is no feeling of heaviness. The enormous dome seems to hover freely over you like a second dome of heaven.(94)

The bust of the emperor was still looked upon with religious awe. We know that every Roman had to burn incense in front of this bust in token of his loyalty and allegiance, and we know that the persecution of Christians began because of their refusal to comply with this demand.(95)

All the skill and achievements of centuries of Greek art were used in these feats of war reporting. But the importance which the Romans attached to an accurate rendering of all details, and to a clear narrative (...) rather changed the character of art. The main aim was no longer that of harmony, beauty or dramatic expression.(96)

Perhaps he was not really much concerned with drawing lifelike figures.(...)His main intention was to remind the beholder of the occasions when God had manifested His power.(97)

Yet there is something touching in the very effort which the artist made to tell his story as clearly and simply as possible. These (...) seem to show that mankind had begun to concern itself with other things besides earthly beauty.(99)

It has often been said that ancient art declined in these years, and it is certainly true that many secrets of the best period were lost in the general turmoil of wars(...). But we have seen that this loss in skill is not the whole story. The point is that artists at this time (...) tried to achieve new effects.(100)

They portray the people who witnessed, and finally accepted, the rise of Christianity, which meant the end of the ancient world.(100)