29. Sarcophagus of the Spouses

 

Sarcophagus of the Spouses Etruscan. (Italy) c. 520 B.C.E. Terra cotta 3 feet 9-1/2 inches x 6 feet 7 inches, found in the Banditaccia necropolis, Cerveteri (Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia in Rome) The Sarcophagus of the Spouses as an object conveys a great deal of information about Etruscan culture and its customs. The convivial theme of the sarcophagus reflects the funeral customs of Etruscan society and the elite nature of the object itself provides important information about the ways in which funerary custom could reinforce the identity and standing of aristocrats among the community of the living. Context: Found in an Etruscan tomb in a necropolis, Banditaccia at Cerveteri  This is considered the most important work ever found in one of these tombs Only history of the Etruscans being the art and the inscriptions that came with them there are two versions of this work One in the Louvre in Paris The other in the Etruscan Museum in Rome Both are meant to be appreciated as the same work The Etruscans were in Northern Italy just North of the Romans Before the Romans became the vast empire that they are remembered as Made in 520 BCE, 11 years before the last Etruscan King was kicked out of Rome Found in approximately 400 hundred pieces other Important work being "The Tomb of Triclinium" Form: Painted Terra Cotta High-relief Relaxed figure Odd considering concurrent works would be the Kouros in Greece those being extremely stiff Split twice Once sagittally and once to separate the lid and the base Most likely so that it would fit in a kiln  Content: two figures Man and a woman Previous greek statues were mostly free standing With both together, it creates a sense of intimacy Both are seemingly reaching out, creating depth and a 360 degree work of art The figures are thought to have held something in their hands, however, what exactly that was is not clear Could have been objects relating to a banquet Not a portrait Have the Archaic Smile Function: takes the form of a bed, upon which the deceased are resting Serves similarly to the Kouros Gravemarker Indicative of burial practices Displays the importance of the woman in Etruscan culture by displaying the woman with her husband In greece, the banquets were reserved for just men