Undergraduate Course: Roman Interior Design (CACA10025)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Many sites across the Roman world retain evidence for the decoration of the interiors of buildings in the form of wall paintings, mosaics, stucco, statuary and furniture. This course focuses on the ways in which these media were used, both singly and in combination, the extent to which they were designed to fit the shape and purpose of the spaces they occupy, and the social meaning and importance of interior decoration.
The surviving remains from Pompeii, Herculaneum and the city of Rome itself will be studied in some detail, but other sites in Italy and the provinces will also be studied from the point of view of the spread of ideas about interior design from Rome and the development of distinctive regional/local styles and workshops.
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| Course description |
This course considers the evidence for the decoration of the interiors of buildings in the form of wall paintings, mosaics, stucco, statuary and furniture. Although each of these decorative media can be studied on its own special consideration is given to the ways in which these media were used in combination, the extent to which they were designed to fit the shape and purpose of the spaces they occupy, and the social meaning and importance of interior decoration.
The surviving remains from Pompeii, Herculaneum and the city of Rome itself will be studied in some detail, with several classes devoted to the development of the 'four styles' of Pompeian painting and the subject matter used. The paintings from the Villas at Oplontis, Boscoreale and Boscotrecase, and the House of Augustus in Rome are used as case studies. Other sites in Italy and the provinces will also be studied from the point of view of the spread of ideas about interior design from Rome and the development of distinctive regional/local styles and workshops: areas considered include Gaul, Germany and Roman Britain (especially the British mosaic workshops); North Africa (mosaics); Syria and other sites in the Eastern empire. Much of the decoration will come from houses, but consideration will also be given to the specialist needs of other types of buildings (such as baths, tombs and commercial premises), and the role of gardens and use of garden statuary. The course ends with attempts to 'put it all together' - to reconstruct what a Roman room with its painting, mosaic and stucco decoration, and furniture and furnishings, might have looked like, and the extent to which Roman went in for what we call 'interior design'.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics related subject matter(at least 2 of which should be in Classical Art/Archaeology) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination , command of the body of knowledge considered in the course;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, an ability to read, analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, an ability to understand, evaluate and utilise a variety of primary source material, especially art historical and other material evidence ;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, the ability to develop and sustain scholarly arguments in oral and written form, by formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence;
- demonstrate independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers.
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Reading List
Clarke, J.R. (1998) The Houses of Roman Italy 100 B.C. ¿A.D. 200. Ritual,
space and decoration Berkeley
Davey, N and Ling, R (1982) Wall Painting in Roman Britain (Britannia
Monograph series 3) London
Dobbins, J.J. and P.W. Foss (eds.), (2007) The World of Pompeii London: part III on housing
including Clarke, ¿Domestic decoration: mosaics and stucco¿ and Jashemski,
¿Gardens¿;
Dunbabin, K.M.D. (1978) The Mosaics of Roman North Africa. Studies in
Iconography and Patronage Oxford
Dunbabin, K.M.D. (1999) Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World Cambridge
Hales, S. (2003) The Roman House and Social Identity Cambridge
Leach, E.W. (2004) The Social Life of Painting in Ancient Rome and on the
Bay of Naples Cambridge
Ling, R.(1991) Roman Painting Cambridge
Ling, R.(1998) Roman Mosaics London
Mattusch, C.C. and Lie, H. (2005) The Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum: Life
and Afterlife of a Sculpture Collection Los Angeles
Neal, D.S. and S.R. Cosh (2002) Roman Mosaics of Britain London
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 or 50 3582 in order for approval to be obtained. |
| Keywords | Interior Design |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Glenys Davies
Tel: (0131 6)50 3592
Email: G.M.Davies@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Elaine Hutchison
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: E.Hutchison@ed.ac.uk |
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