Art History Timeline / Ancient Roman Art
Ancient Roman Art for Kids: Art History, Artists and an Easy Art Activity
The Romans built roads, arches and huge buildings. They painted pictures right on their walls and made floor pictures from tiny stones called mosaics. They also carved very real-looking portraits.
For teachers
Roman art borrowed from Greek art and added realistic portraits, engineering such as the arch and concrete dome, and public monuments. Wall paintings preserved at Pompeii and nearby villas show landscapes, still life and painted architecture. Mosaics decorated floors across the empire.
What to look for
Pull up an artwork from this time and go on a looking hunt. Here is what to spot.
- Mosaics made from tiny tiles
- Wall paintings that look like windows or gardens
- Realistic faces, even wrinkles
- Arches and domes
Meet the artists
Pompeii wall painters
1st century BCE to 79 CE
Their paintings were buried by a volcano and stayed hidden for about 1,700 years.
Apollodorus of Damascus
active about 100 CE
He was an architect for Emperor Trajan and is linked to Trajan's Forum and Trajan's Column.
Artworks to look at closely
Click any artwork to zoom in on The Met website. Big screen, slow looking, lots of talking.
Wall painting on black ground: landscape, from the imperial villa at…Roman, Pompeian artist, last decade of the 1st century BCEThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The Met
Cubiculum (bedroom) from the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at BoscorealeRoman artist, ca. 50 to 40 BCEThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The Met
Bronze portrait bust of a Roman matronRoman artist, ca. 20 to 50 CEThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The MetTry it
An easy art activity you can do with paper and whatever drawing tools you have.
Make a paper mosaic. Cut coloured paper into small squares and glue them down to make a fish, bird or bowl of fruit. Leave a tiny gap between each piece, just like the Romans did with stone.
Ms Artastic lessons
There is no Ms Artastic lesson for this part of the timeline yet. In the meantime, the Free Art Lesson Library has lessons you can teach this week.
Open the Free Art Lesson LibraryQuestions teachers and parents ask
What is ancient Roman art?
The Romans built roads, arches and huge buildings. They painted pictures right on their walls and made floor pictures from tiny stones called mosaics. They also carved very real-looking portraits.
What time period is ancient Roman art from?
Time period: About 500 BCE to 476 CE. Where: Italy and the Roman Empire.
Who are some famous artists of ancient Roman art?
Pompeii wall painters (1st century BCE to 79 CE) and Apollodorus of Damascus (active about 100 CE).
What is an easy art project for kids about ancient Roman art?
Make a paper mosaic. Cut coloured paper into small squares and glue them down to make a fish, bird or bowl of fruit. Leave a tiny gap between each piece, just like the Romans did with stone.
The Artastic Collective art curriculum
Full art lessons, videos and units for the whole year, ready when you are. Monthly, yearly and VIP plans.
More famous-artist video lessons
Press play and paint along with me. Each video lesson comes with a printable lesson plan and a QR code, so it is ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
