Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman . in bronze, of excellent workmanship, placed in the library of thetemple of Augustus, was an Etruscan work. Under Tiberius andClaudius a limit was placed to the right of having statues exposedin public ; consequently a lesser number of statues were made, andless attention was paid to the perfection of the portrait. However, SCULPTURE. 139 some excellent works were produced in this period. The stylebecame purer and more refined under Adrian, for a partial revival ofGreek art is attributed to this emperor. The hair was carefullyworked
Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman . in bronze, of excellent workmanship, placed in the library of thetemple of Augustus, was an Etruscan work. Under Tiberius andClaudius a limit was placed to the right of having statues exposedin public ; consequently a lesser number of statues were made, andless attention was paid to the perfection of the portrait. However, SCULPTURE. 139 some excellent works were produced in this period. The stylebecame purer and more refined under Adrian, for a partial revival ofGreek art is attributed to this emperor. The hair was carefullyworked, the eyebrows were raised, the pupils were indicated by adeep cavity—an essential characteristic of this age, rare before thisperiod, and frequently introduced afterwards; the heads acquiredgreater strength, without, however, increasing in character. Underthe Antonines, the decay of art was still more manifest, displayinga want of simplicity, and an attention to trivial and meretricious. BUST OF A ROMAN LADY. BUST OF CARACALLA. accessories. Thus, in the busts, the hair and the beard luxuriate inan exaggerated profusion of curls, the careful expression of thefeatures of the countenance being at the same time frequentlyneglected. This age was remarkable also for its recurrence to thestyle of a primitive and imperfect art in the reproduction ofEgyptian statues. Like the pre-Kaphaelitism of the present day,this imitation of, and recurrence to, the early and imperfect forms ofart, like second childhood in man, are evident signs of the down-ward tendency and total decay of art. The art declined still furtherunder Commodus and Severus. The use of perukes and false hair isexhibited in the busts. The figures were mechanical in style, and 140 HANDBOOK OF ARCHAEOLOGY. totally deficient in life. Under Alexander Severus it was degradedinto a coarse and low style. Deep furrows were marked on theforehead, the hair and beard were indicated by long lines, a deepercavity was given to t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectarchaeology, booksubjectartancient
