Roman Imperialism and Provincial Art

Roman Imperialism and Provincial Art, first published in 2003, focuses on the art works created in the provinces of the Roman Empire. Heretofore marginalized, or at best understood in terms of emulations of the symbols, styles, and tastes of metropolitan Rome, provincial art is often portrayed as a poor copy of works created in the imperial capital. In this volume, the contributors address the diversity and complexity of the evidence and also offer fresh interpretations of mosaics, wall-paintings, statues and jewelry in an effort to determine what these art works can tell us about the nature of life under an imperial regime. The broad geographical and chronological coverage allows unique insights into the social and political significance of visual expression across the Roman Empire.

Introduction: 1. Provincial art and Roman imperialism: an overview Sarah Scott; Part I. Conceptualizing Provincial Art: 2. Art, Romanization and competence Catherine Johns; 3. Art as resistance and negotiation Jane Webster; Part II. Metropolitan Art and the Depiction of Rome's 'Others': 4. 'The hanged men dance': Barbarians in Trajanic art Iain Ferris; 5. Female representation in Roman art: feminizing the provincial 'Other' René Rodgers; Part III. Art in the Roman West: 6. Poles apart?: Perceptions of gender in Gaulish and British cult-imagery Miranda Aldhouse Green; 7. 'The Captains and the Kings depart' Martin Henig; 8. Seeing Apollo in Roman Gaul and Germany Greg Woolf; Part IV. Art in Roman North Africa: 9. Family values? Art and power at Ghirza, Tripolitania David Matingly; Part V. Art in the Roman East: 10. The houses of Antioch: a study of the domestic sphere in the imperial Near East Shelley Hales; 11. Art and identity in Asia Minor Zahra Newby; Epilogue: 12. Art and aesthetics: a personal view Martin Henig.

Roman Imperialism and Provincial Art focuses on art works created in the provinces of the Roman Empire. Contributors determine what these art works can tell us about the nature of life under an imperial regime, offering unique insights into the social and political significance of visual expression across the Roman Empire.