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Art for Art's Sake? Not for the Romans
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Culture & Society

Art for Art's Sake? Not for the Romans

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • An exhibition at the Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes showcases Roman art from the Louvre's collection, focusing on its functional and social purposes rather than purely aesthetic value.
  • The exhibition highlights the Roman conception of art as primarily 'useful,' serving societal needs and demonstrating the value placed on utility in Roman artistic practices.
  • Unlike modern notions of 'art for art's sake,' Roman creations, from gladiator helmets to public works, were designed with practical application and societal benefit in mind.

The Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes is currently hosting an exhibition that delves into the functional and social dimensions of Roman art, drawing from the extensive collections of the Louvre. The exhibition, titled 'Roman Art from the Louvre,' challenges the modern concept of 'art for art's sake' by emphasizing the practical utility that defined Roman artistic creation.

Visitors are greeted by a striking Thracian gladiator's bronze helmet from the 1st century AD. This piece, adorned with a gorgon, exemplifies the exhibition's core theme: art's primary role was not decorative but protective, serving the direct needs of its user in the brutal context of combat. This functional aspect, rather than purely aesthetic appeal, is central to understanding Roman artistic intent.

In the Roman world, artistic practice was indeed viewed primarily from the perspective of its use and the service it could render to society.

— Manuella LambertExplaining the Roman approach to art as highlighted in the exhibition.

Manuella Lambert, a curator at the Louvre's Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities and co-curator of the exhibition, explains that the Roman world viewed artistic practice through the lens of its use and the service it could render to society. The Roman tradition particularly valued the notion of utility, which served to legitimize and elevate any artistic activity. This perspective contrasts sharply with contemporary ideals that often prioritize form and aesthetic contemplation above all else.

The exhibition features over 130 pieces, all originating from the Louvre's renowned collection. These artifacts, ranging from intricate personal adornments to elements of public infrastructure, consistently illustrate the Roman emphasis on practicality. Whether it was a helmet designed for survival or a public building intended for civic function, Roman art was fundamentally integrated into the fabric of daily life and societal structure, serving a purpose beyond mere visual pleasure.

The Roman tradition particularly valued the notion of utility, which legitimized and ennobled any activity.

— Manuella LambertFurther elaborating on the importance of function in Roman art.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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