What beliefs of the Etruscans shaped the imagery of the work shown above?
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April 24 1904 Willem de Kooning
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- Suzanne Altman
- Bronxville, NY, United States
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The Etruscans were a unique people who ruled most of the Italian peninsula until 509 bce, when the Roman's overthrew the kings and formed a republic centered in Rome. The Etruscans thought of tombs as homes for the dead. The cemeteries were often laid out like small towns. That meant that the tomb must be decorated in a cheerful and attractive manor. The Etruscans also had a legacy for being a people who enjoyed entertainment. They enjoyed feasting, dancing, musical performances, athletic contests, hunting, and fishing. They depicted all of these on the walls of their tomb's. The Etruscans were also infamous for their gladiator games which began as a sacrificial rite but (as seen in Roman times) they became a spectacle for the masses. Essentially it was the Etruscan's enjoyment of lavish festivities that affected their tomb decoration.
The Etruscans valued the concept of the afterlife and considered tombs a home for the dead, similar conceptually to Egyptian beliefs. The artistic work within the tombs was often brightly colored and depicted scenes of enjoyment and leisure, including feasting, dancing, and musical performances. Etruscan beliefs and their lifestyle generally seem to be lighthearted; even paintings depicting funeral scenes show men and women reclining on couches. Essentially, Etruscan artwork within tombs was meant to depict a sense of optimism and "earthly comfort" in order to provide an appropriate environment for the dead.
Before the time of Rome, the Etruscan civilization dominated Apennine Peninsula. Their rule lasted up until 509 BC. Etruscan culture and beliefs are clearly captured in the vivid artworks they left behind. In regards to the afterlife, Etruscans asserted that tombs acted as houses for the dead, and should be decorated as such. Artworks found in these tombs depict scenes of relaxation and recreation; activities such as dancing and musical performances are portrayed. These mortal amusements are often portrayed; like the Egyptians, the Etruscans believed that these pastimes would be enjoyed in the afterlife. A cheery mood is incorporated into the artworks, stemming from the optimistic beliefs concerning the dead.
The Etruscans created artistic objects that were mainly focused on religious purposes. Paintings within Etruscan tombs were bright colored and depicted scenes of everyday day life. This mostly included scenes of relaxation, dancing, athletic contests, hunting, games, etc.. Also, just like the Egyptians, the Etruscans thought of tombs as homes for the deceased. Another similarity between the Etruscans and the Egyptians is that the after life was looked at in a place to look forward to and that pastimes would be enjoyed there. Although, They did not try and preserve the body but preferred to cremate the dead.
The Etruscans left little evidence to the history of their religious beliefs. Although there is little to say about their beliefs, they were greatly influenced by Greek deities and heroes. The finding of several tombs leads many to believe that the image above is from an elaborate temple. Tombs were thought of as “homes for the dead.” Some were decorated as if it were a small town, with makeshift streets and built out of rock to resemble the rooms in a house. Artists painted brightly colored paintings of scenes of feasting, dancing, musical performances, contests, and many others, on the walls of the tombs.
Etruscan graveyards were built in the pattern of a town, with "roads" between the tombs. Each tomb, they believed, was meant to be one's home in the afterlife. In order to ensure a happy and serene afterlife, tombs were painted with feasts, dances, musical performances, athletic contests, hunting, and fishing. The walls were painted with vivid and lively colors so as to create a cheery setting. Some tombs were even modeled after an actual room, to provide the dead earthly comforts in the afterlife.
The Etruscans of early Rome have little known about their religious beliefs. Through their artwork, however, it is easy to see the trend of festivities and happy occasions on tomb walls. This picture depicts a woman who is probably dancing, suggested by her skirt, almost as if she was twirling and the man behind her is playing an instrument. It not only displays a simple gesture of movement, but the Etruscan love of celebrations. The designing of the tomb like a small village suggests that the Etruscan's believed that it would be used in the afterlife. Perhaps, like the use of the room, they believed that the paintings would serve as a place for the dead to "go."
As a people the Etruscans viewed the afterlife as an important part of their life and artwork in a tomb was very detailed and bright. Generally speaking the Etruscans were a jovial people and their artwork reflected this by depicting scenes of festivities. The Etruscan tombs were created to produce a comfortable habitat for someone's afterlife.
Like previous civlizations, many of the works of the Etruscans focused on the afterlife. The Etruscans considered tombs a "home for the dead" in the afterlife, much like the Egyptians did. However, the Etruscans had a reputation for having positive and optimistic attitudes. As a result they painted these tombs with bright, vibrant colors. These paintings depicted scenes of dancing, musical performances, athletic contests, and other events all of which seem to have positive associations. Moreover, the Etruscan feeling of optimism significantly influenced the decoration of their tombs
The Etruscans had a very spiritual culture. They strongly believed in an afterlife and thought of a tomb as home for the dead. This home was excavated below the ground and was hewn out of bedrock. Within these tombs, it was common to have brightly colored paintings of scenes, such as feasting, dancing, performing, athletic contests, hunting, fishing, and other pleasures enjoyed during the human lifetime. An example of these tomb paintings would be in the picture above. The Etruscans decorated their tombs with these works of art because they wanted to make every effort to provide earthly comforts for their dead.
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