Rethinking the Romans
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This reinstallation of 16 portraits, fragments, figures and funerary objects from the Museum's exceptional Roman collection presents the works of art in light of new scholarship that stresses meaning, use and context within Roman culture.
This new thinking challenges traditional considerations of Roman marble sculptures as purely mechanical copies of earlier Greek originals, an interpretation that for decades reinforced a deeply held view that Roman artists lacked the creativity of their Greek predecessors. This wholesale reassessment makes a clear case for the necessary consideration of Roman sculpture in light of its uniquely Roman aspects -- particularly context and function -- and explores concepts of imitation and emulation.
RISD's Roman sculpture has benefitted not only from exciting new scholarly interpretations, but also from a handsome new installation in the entrance gallery of the Radeke Wing, a fitting location since the Museum's classical collection is largely the result of the vision of Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke, for whom the wing is named. In addition, the works of art have been cleaned and conserved and -- in many cases -- remounted in ways that emphasize their liveliness and sense of movement.
An accompanying gallery guide includes essays by Georgina E. Borromeo, Associate Curator of Ancient Art, Crispin Corrado Goulet, Brown University graduate student; Mary Hollinshead, Associate Professor of Art, University of Rhode Island; Brunilde Sismondo Ridgway, Rhys Carpenter Professor Emerita of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, Bryn Mawr College; and Kent Severson, conservator in private practice.
