Expert: Maria - 7/15/2005

Question
What type of art work would be depicted in Italy before the Romans?  

Answer
Hello,

Before the Romans in Italy we have  the  Etruscan culture, i.e. the highest civilization in Italy before the rise of Rome ( founded in 753 BC) which by the 3rd. century BC defeated the Etruscans and absorbed their culture and civilization.
The core of the territory of the Etruscans, known as Etruria to the Romans, was northwest of the Tiber River, now in modern Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and part of Umbria and Lazio, i.e. some regions of central Italy.
The Etruscans produced both practical and decorative art such as sculptures, paintings, pottery, metal work, and jewelry.
Fresco paintings were abundant in Etruscan underground funerary vaults, works that frequently depict banquets, festivals, and scenes of daily life. Executed in a strictly two-dimensional style and decorated with foliage motifs, many of these tomb paintings are still extant (See the towns of Tarquinia, Cerveteri, Populonia, Vetulonia, etc).
Also, the Etruscans made many sculptures from clay and used alabaster for making their funeral urns. Fresco paintings depicting gods, gorgons, griffins and satyrs decorated the walls of their tombs and buildings, as I've already said.
Metal work was also a large feature of the Etruscan art culture. They produced bronze sculptures, intricately decorated cutlery, gold jewelry and other forms of decorative metal work.
Coffins of the wealthy and important citizens were elaborately decorated in clay relief which were carved into the coffin lids, while simpler carvings decorated coffins and cinerary urns of the less important members of society.

To conclude, from the 7th to the 3d century B.C., Etruscan art flourished throughout central Italy and was extremely influential on the art of the Romans.

Regards,
Maria