Ancient Rome used aspects of other cultures. They modified and blended them into their own culture. What the Romans did was a true art. Romans were especially influenced by the art of the Greeks. Historians often spoke of Greco-Roman art. Greco-Roman is having the characteristics of Roman art with a strong Greek influence. The Romans were skilled in creating realistic statues. They would imitate Greek sculpture, but they were particularly good at making their sculpted images lifelike. The wealthy Roman’s homes were decorated with colorful murals and mosaics. The Romans took existing forms of art and made them their own.
They painted beautiful frescoes. Frescoes are painted on moist plaster with water-based paints. Roman frescoes often showed three-dimensional landscapes and other scenes. Looking at one of these, was almost like looking through the wall at a scene outside. You might have seen these in restaurants, banks, and other buildings.
Romans were also great patrons of art. They would pay thousands of painters, sculptors, and craftspeople to create their work. As a result, Romans left behind many examples to inspire future generations. The Roman Arts was rediscovered during the period of the Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo revived the Greco-Roman style in their sculptures and paintings. An example is the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The ceiling shows scenes from the Bible painted by Michelangelo in the 1500’s. A Roman would feel right at home looking up at this fascinating creation. Roman Art as continued to influence painters and sculptors. Roman styles were especially popular during the early days of the United States.