transitions in art.

Cupids making Perfume, wall painting in the House of Vetti is a good example of Roman painting. Romans decorated their buildings with intricate paintings. Some of which that told a story. House paintings were very common in this time period, and we still have some-such as this- that we can still look at. This is because they were saved by the volcano. This piece in particular has very intricate details to it. There is a level of sophistication shown in the shading and realism of the piece. The cupids are given shape and form through the shadows and shading given to them. It is also seen in the tubs and cabinets. During the Roman period, people looked to depict the body in a real sense but still also connecting with the roots of idealism and mythology of Greece. The architecture in this building is filled with many volumetric creatures, such as these cupids, and it brings even more of a sense of three-dimensional spatial definition. 

The Good Shepherd, of Galla Placidia is an example of painting in the Early Christian Time Period. It is not actually made from paint but rather mosaics. During the Early Christian Period many of the works were made from mosaics rather than painted onto their surface. This piece is found in the church of Galla Placidia and is one of the  many works found adorning the church. Jesus is portrayed not as a boy but rather an adult emperor wearing royal robes. He was seen as royalty during this time period, as Christianity was the official state religion for 45 years. They chose to depict Jesus as royalty and proclaim his glory by adorning the walls with scenes of him rather than the rulers during that time period. There is not as much detail given to this piece. Shadows and form is created by changing of tile color but the figures appear more two-dimensional rather than life-like.

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Just by the appearance of these pieces you can see a significant change from Classical to Christian time periods. The sophistication and detail has greatly decreased throughout the time. One big transition, was the transition from using paint to mosaics. Both of these pieces of art were used to adorn a space where people resided. During Classical Rome, more of the figures appeared to be about everyday people and the mythological world. Whereas in Christian Rome, the figures depicted scenes from Bible Times and of the Christian religion. This was their way of continuing the remembrance of history because most of the population was illiterate. Many of the paintings and mosaics from the Christian period are found in churches and holy places, and many of the paintings (at least that still remain) are found in homes from the Classical period. The mosaics used during the Christian time period reflected light and gave the space a holy, heavenly feeling. There is still a perception of shading used to make the figures have volume and form during the Christian period but there is a visible decline in the sophistication of detail in the art from Classical to Christian Rome.