Discuss the extent to which a classical artwork(s) was innovative with the composition and / or design of one or more artworks


PANTHEON

Introduction:

Topic Sentence: The design of the Pantheon was for it's day innovative and an engineering marvel. While it was not the first domed structure in Roman architecture, it's pre-eminence is due to it's well preserved state

Porch

Rotunda

Dome

Originally built by Marcus Agrippa in 27BC and later rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian in 118AD - 128AD

Located on the Campus Martius in Central Rome

Weight distribution techniques

Paragraph 1: Dome

Topic Sentence: The Dome is the most well known and innovative feature on the Pantheon, due to the way it was built

Built using pozzolana (water-proof concrete) poured down a wooden frame and faced with brick (because concrete by itself would've been ugly

Light materials on top --> heavy materials on the bottom

Pumice --> brick + pumice --> brick --> tufa + brick --> tufa --> tufa + travertine --> travertine

56m in diameter

Coffered ceilings

Weight reduction / distribution:

Marble veneer used higher up

Internal corridors and niches in roof

Oculus

Allow light in

Religious significance - window to the heavens

9m wide

Paragraph 2: Rotunda

Topic Sentence: The Rotunda was another feature of the Pantheon that was very innovative, as much of the weight reduction and distribution to prevent the dome from collapsing in can be found in the design of the Rotunda

Could fit a perfect circle inside the rotunda + dome

Made of concrete faced with brick

Rests on foundations 4.5m deep and 7m thick

Weight distribution

8 internal arches in brick helped distribute weight

Columns and pilasters inside rotunda distribute weight

Niches in walls said to have held planetary gods

Holes in floor to drain rain water as rain came in through the oculus

Paragraph 3: Porch

Topic Sentence: The Porch is another feature of the Pantheon that was innovative in bringing together the design of the Pantheon

Pantheon very frontal (one entrance and exit) so porch was important for great first impressions

33.5 wide

Porch roof originally made of gilded bronze tiles

Traditional, deep porch columned like earlier Roman temples

Central doorway made of bronze

2 semi-circular niches once contained statues of Augustus and Agrippa

Vestibule helped to buttress the rotunda

Corinthian capitals

Octastyle columns

Granite for drums came from Egypt

Augustus' triumph over Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Fluted corinthian pilasters flank entrance

Messages:

Rome's power and influence

Scale / Size

Stability of Roman culture

Engineering / design

Rome has ability to build incredible structures

Reinforces power