Artistic imitation and the Roman patron with a study of imitation in the ideal sculptures of Herodes Atticus.

Abstract

This dissertation contributes to the long-standing debate concerning Roman artistic imitation, a category that includes, but is not limited to, 'exact' copies of Greek prototypes. A number of comments on artistic imitation can be found in ancient textual sources, particularly in rhetorical and literary critical texts. These texts indicate that mechanical, 'exact' replication of art works, although it did occur, was not regarded highly by Romans of good education, and that in this respect the Roman view of imitation in the visual arts was not all that different from the Roman view of imitation in literature: creative imitation and emulation were preferred. Once this fact is established, the dissertation asks just what the Roman principles of good artistic imitation might be. The investigation of textual sources on Roman artistic imitation is followed by a case study of imitation and emulation in those mythological and heroic sculptures that can be attributed to the second-century patron, Herodes Atticus. Herodes was one of the few patrons of the Roman Empire to whom we may securely attribute a large number of sculptures. Moreover, he was himself both wealthy and educated. His education was in the field of rhetoric and public speaking, and so in some ways the sculptures that he owned may be considered a visible manifestation of the principles of artistic imitation that are outlined in ancient rhetorical texts. Occasionally, Herodes' sculptures seem to contradict the message of the textual sources. This apparent discrepancy leads to some concluding speculations concerning the roles of patron and artist in the Roman world.