Roman art Romulus to Constantine

Two well-illustrated volumes explore the world of ancient art. Glories of the Past documents a private collection of art and artifacts stretching from the early Aegean period to late antiquity of the fifth and sixth centuries. The bulk of the collection's holdings, however, is Greek and Roman art, with smaller selections of items from the Near East and Asia. The objects are illustrated in excellent color photographs supplemented with additional black-and-white plates, while 20 leading art scholars discuss each item from both archaeological and aesthetic viewpoints. A striking look at a rich and varied collection distinguished by curiosity and a taste for the unusual and extraordinary. The Ramages' survey of Roman art and architecture makes good use of colorplates and black-and-white photographs, even if the reproduction is less than optimum. Covering the period from Rome's Etruscan origins to the removal of the empire's capital to Constantinople, the volume examines sculpture, architecture, painting, metalwork, pottery, and mosaics in a chronological sequence that shows how developments spread from Rome the city throughout the vast empire. The Ramages expertly demonstrate the borrowings Rome made from other civilizations in their art and also point up the Roman contribution to later Western civilization. Appended are lists of Roman emperors and authors. Glossary and bibliography. ~--John Brosnahan