| What makes it historical? |
What’s the best way to redeem yourself when folks suspect you of killing your brother for power? Build him an arch and make him a god! That’s what the Emperor Domitian did in 81 AD after his brother, Titus, died of a mysterious fever. Made of marble, the arch is engraved with scenes of the conquest of Jerusalem and features both Titus and their father, Vespasian, carrying their loot back to Rome with winged Victory riding with them. It also has an inscription naming them as gods themselves!
From an art history standpoint, this arch is pretty innovative. For the first time in Roman art history, the sculptors conveyed the illusion of space and perspective. For instance, the folks in front are larger than those in the back! |
