Roman sculpture

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The sculpture of ancient Rome refers to the three-dimensional works of art produced under Roman rule from the foundation of the city in the eighth century BCE to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. Sculpture played a central role in Roman public life; it depicted deities for worship, commemorated the political elite, celebrated historical events, and honored the dead. In private contexts, household representations of gods ancestors enabled ancient Romans to practice domestic devotion and ancestral remembrance. In both public and private spheres, systems of patronage were fundamental to the development of Roman sculpture. One of the most distinctive features of Roman sculpture is its emphasis on portraiture. In free-standing statues, busts, reliefs, and gem cameos, individuals were represented in both idealized and highly realistic modes. Roman sculptors worked primarily in marble sourced from across the Mediterranean, but they also employed materials such as bronze, travertine...

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