Rome Art

What does the face of power look like? Who gets commemorated in art and why? And how do we react to statues of politicians we deplore? In this book - against a background of today’s “sculpture wars” - Mary Beard tells the story of how for more than two millennia portraits of the rich, powerful, and famous in the Western world have been shaped by the image of Roman emperors, especially the “Twelve Caesars”, from the ruthless Julius Caesar to the fly-torturing Domitian.

AD 69. The year of the four emperors. Three emperors have ruled in Rome this year and a fourth, Vespasian, has been named in the East. As the legions march toward civil war, Sebastos Pantera, the spy whose name means leopard, returns to Rome intent on bribery, blackmail and persuasion: whatever it takes to bring the commanders and their men to Vespasian's side. But in Rome, as he uses every skill he has ever learned of subterfuge, codes and camouflage, it becomes clear that one of those closest to him is a traitor who will let Rome fall to destroy him.

Written between A.D. 413 and 426, The City of God is one of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian thought, a book which is vital to the understanding of modern Western society. Augustine originally intended it to be an apology for Christianity against the accusation that the Church was responsible for the decline of the Roman Empire, which had occurred just three years earlier. Indeed, Augustine produced a great amount of evidence to prove that paganism was responsible for this event. However, by the time the work was finished, the book had taken on a larger theme.

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most iconic masterpieces of the Renaissance. Here, in Raphael, Painter in Rome, Storey tells of its creation as never before: through the eyes of Michelangelo's fiercest rival - the young, beautiful, brilliant painter of perfection, Raphael. Orphaned at age 11, Raphael is determined to keep the deathbed promise he made to his father: become the greatest artist in history. But to be the best, he must beat the best, the legendary sculptor of the David, Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Hannibal is often considered the finest general the world has ever known. Setting out from Carthaginian-dominated Spain with a small army of select troops, he fought his way over the Pyrenees and crossed the Alps with elephants and a full baggage train. Descending into Italy, he destroyed the main Roman army at Lake Trasimeno and came close to conquering Rome itself.

A Storytellers' reworking of Caesar's Commentaries as a new version. This follows the original line-by-line to create a modern voice that is faithful to Caesar's exacting text.

Power, tragedy and hubris are played out in this quartet, all of which are set in the febrile political atmosphere of ancient Rome. Performed by an incredible array of the 20th century’s greatest actors, Marlowe alumni including Ian McKellen, Prunella Scales, Patrick Wymark and William Devlin can be heard in these recordings.

Rome, une ville éternelle, une société ingénieuse formée d'ethnies disparates sous la protection des dieux. Une petite bourgade aménagée sur une colline entourée de marécages qui en un millénaire a bâti un Empire de 5 millions de kilomètres carrés d'espace, sillonné de 90 000 kilomètres de routes. Rome, c'est la guerre incessante, mais aussi la joie et l'art de vivre hérités de la civilisation étrusque ; la littérature et la poésie inspirées de la culture grecque.

Emilie Kip Baker was a woman ahead of her time. Born in San Francisco in 1857, she grew up in a wealthy family and received a private education, which was uncommon for women then. Baker was a natural adventurer and a writer from a young age. She embarked on her first solo trip at the age of 20, traveling across the United States by train and writing about her experiences for various publications.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the triumphal arch of Constantine, in Rome, between the Colosseum and the Palatine, and was made by the founder of Constantinople. The three-hole arc was built in the years 312-315 to celebrate Constantine's victory over Massenzio, in the battle fought at Milvio bridge.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the triumphal arch of Constantine, in Rome, between the Colosseum and the Palatine, and was made by the founder of Constantinople. The three-hole arc was built in the years 312-315 to celebrate Constantine's victory over Massenzio, in the battle fought at Milvio bridge.

The audioguide tells the story, describes architecture and reports interesting facts about the mausoleum of Santa Costanza, the daughter of the founder of Constantinople, which is one of the main examples of late-ancient architecture among Roman monuments. At the base of the Mausoleum's architecture, there are exceptional Roman models such as the Pantheon, but its structure is innovative with its concentric circular spaces.

The audioguide tells the story, describes architecture and reports interesting facts about the mausoleum of Santa Costanza, the daughter of the founder of Constantinople, which is one of the main examples of late-ancient architecture among Roman monuments. At the base of the Mausoleum's architecture, there are exceptional Roman models such as the Pantheon, but its structure is innovative with its concentric circular spaces.

The audioguide tells the story, describes architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica, located in Rome, on the summit of Monte Celio. Particular attention is paid to the decoration of the central apse. They lively colors are striking, especially since many of the mosaics, of the apse, date back to the 9th century and represent work from the Byzantine school.

The audioguide tells the story, describes architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica, located in Rome, on the summit of Monte Celio. Particular attention is paid to the decoration of the central apse. They lively colors are striking, especially since many of the mosaics, of the apse, date back to the 9th century and represent work from the Byzantine school.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica of San Lorenzo, outside the walls, one of the oldest basilicas in Rome. According to the legend, Lorenzo was the Archdiocese of Sixtus II, the pope at the time of Emperor Valerian, who rose to the throne in 253 AD. San Lorenzo was executed in 258.The basilica is part of the itinerary of the seven churches made by pilgrims to Rome.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica. Saint John the Evangelist preached in this place. Tradition tells us that John, the apostle of Jesus, was placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, but came out miraculously uninjured and safe. The real gem of this church are the medieval frescoes, discovered during the restoration works of the last century.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica. Saint John the Evangelist preached in this place. Tradition tells us that John, the apostle of Jesus, was placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, but came out miraculously uninjured and safe. The real gem of this church are the medieval frescoes, discovered during the restoration works of the last century.

The audioguide tells the story, describes the architecture and reports interesting facts about the basilica of San Lorenzo, outside the walls, one of the oldest basilicas in Rome. According to the legend, Lorenzo was the Archdiocese of Sixtus II, the pope at the time of Emperor Valerian, who rose to the throne in 253 AD. San Lorenzo was executed in 258. The basilica is part of the itinerary of the seven churches made by pilgrims to Rome.

The audioguide tells the story, describes architecture and reports interesting facts about the largest Roman church dedicated to the Mother of God and founded between 432 and 440. In front of the Sistine Chapel is the tomb of Bernini. In the Borghese Chapel, there are the funerary monuments of the popes Paolo V and Clement VIII. At the center of the chapel stands the icon of the "Salus Populi Romani" attributed to San Luca's hand brought from Byzantium.