40. Alexander Mosaic from the House of the Faun, Pompeii

Alexander Mosaic from the House of Faun, Pompeii
Republican Roman. c. 100 B.C.E. Mosaic

The artistic importance of this work of art comes at the subtle and unique artistic style that the artist employed in the making of the mosaic. The first major attribute of this great piece of artwork is the use of motion and intensity in the battle and the use of drama unfolding before the viewer's eyes to further the effect of glory in the mosaic.

FORM:

-floor mosaic, 2.72 by 5.13 meters 

-made from more than one million and a half pieces of stone and glass

-found in the House of Faun in Pompeii

-possibly based on a wall painting done in 315 B.C.E., Hellenistic Period by a greek artist named Philoxenos because it matches a description of the painting written by Pliny

-found on the floor between to peristyles (open courtyards) crowded by columns

FUNCTION:

-found in the House of Faun which was the nicest mansion found in Pompeii which means it was a piece of art aristocrats would have invested in for perhaps their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of guests

-the bronze faun statue found there suggests the owners cared much for art

-the subject matter is significant, it depicts the god-like (think about his breastplate)breastplate, powerful, strong historical figure, Alexander who like the Romans, wanted to conquer the world, and had qualities of strength and military genius which would have been admired by Romans

-Alexander's conquest notably lead to the unification of Greece, a culture the Roman's respected and imitated, the mosaic would have been a symbol of this respect, and almost a source of inspiration 

CONTENT:

-depicts the Battle of Issus, between Alexander the Great and Darius III

-a very dramatic and chaotic scene with a sense of momentum as the massive chariot is turning around

- Darius is turning his army around, his face with a desperate and, emotional quality, his hand extended in horror of his guard who has just been speared in front of him, a gesture preventing him from actually fighting and he is rather just taken aback

-pretty empty at the top, considered evidence it was based on the painting

-turned faces and bodies, show an understanding and respect for the human form and anatomy

-excellent use of foreshortening in the horse 

-Foreshortening: used in art to reduce or distort (parts of a represented object that are not parallel to the picture plane) in order to convey the illusion of three-dimensional space as perceived by the human eye: often done according to the rules of perspective

-incredibly detailed due to the use of so many pieces, one example being the soldier's reflection in his own shield

-Alexander's breastplate has Medusa's head, which was used as a magical protection spell from evil, it also can symbolize divine birth

-most, about 3/4 of the remaining mosaic depicts the Persians, but almost all their spears providing a line of focus to Alexander 

CONTEXT:

-Republican Roman, c. 100 B.C.E. 

-found in the city of Pompeii which was preserved in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius

-it was found in the House of Faun, named after the bronze statue of a faun found there

- wishful thinking on the part of art historians that it is based on a greek painting because there are none left

- the Battle of Issus (333 BC) which was a turning point in ancient history because the ruler of Persia (Darius III) is ordering a retreat of his troops

-Darius has a look of desperation, and history says that Alexander pitied his family and let them live

-this piece's choice of subject matter and naturalism ultimately shows the Roman appreciation for greek art

-Alexander is not depicted in his typical form here, as an incarnation of Zeus, Helios or Apollo with long ringlets and soft, idealized features, but is more natural

THEMES: 

-Function of art: art as decoration

-Preserving history

    -Commemoration

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS: 

-Last judgement of Hu-Nefer (from his tomb)

    -Egyptian style greatly influenced Greek and Roman styles

    -Although this mural is on the floor, it is still reminiscent of Egyptian murals on walls, despite functions being different

SOURCES:

http://alexandermosaik.de/en/

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/foreshortening

IMAGES:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8201/8215866298_e3c9aae518_b.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Battle_of_Issus.jpg