Roman Art From the Louvre

When Cultures Collide at the Seattle Art Museum

Ancient Romans and modern Americans would have gotten along famously; both of our societies are enamored with excess, violence, vanity, self-love, crass consumption and some would say imperialistic tendencies. We would have loved their bloody matches at the Colosseum, cheering on our favorite gladiators (Russell Crowe, duh); we would eat ourselves silly at ridiculous feasts and then shop all day long at the markets. Romans would similarly thrill at the entrance to a Costco, the noble ladies would be all about the Botox, and those epic social gamers would be all over Myspace, or at least Facebook, chatting about who was at the Forum the night before (OMG did you see what Proserpina was wearing?)

For this reason alone you should go to the Seattle Art Museum and experience the Roman art from the Louvre, to compare the two cultures and decide for yourself the importance of the remaining influence of one of the greatest empires ever known. The creative aspirations of the Romans have influenced Western society immensely. Much of what we know about Greek art actually comes from Roman copies of their statues, which in turn inspired the Renaissance several hundred years later, fomenting a Neoclassical movement whose effects you can see all over America today, from our nation's Capitol Building to Seattle's beloved Smith Tower and the glass archway over Pike Street. We walk under their arches every day, and the ghosts of Rome walk among us.

I have spent hours and hours at the Louvre soaking up the Roman artwork that is now on display on Seattle, and it is worth a visit, even on a sunny afternoon. The art's new context in the New World will definitely add a twist and a chance for fresh insight to the French collection. The exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum is planned out simply with easy to navigate, color-coded themes about Roman life. Some say that the Louvre's exhibit was dumbed down for Americans and attempts to explain Roman history on a sixth grade level to visitors who all think that a vomitorium is where you puke after a meal and might not even be able to find Rome on a map. I say, it's a cultural match made in the afterlife, and the ancient Romans would have thought so too.

Outstanding!

What a treat to have this great collection in Seattle. Absolutely worth a visit.

The show is almost over. They're holding a 35 hour marathon this weekend. Doors open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 and don't close until 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 11.

One thing, though. As hard as it is to imagine, I think the folks at the Louvre have it pretty well covered without our "resident experts." Coach Willingham telling us that the god Jupiter looks the way he does because he spent a bunch of time in the weight room?? What?? Don't even get me started on Gov. Gregoire's remarks. If possible, they might even be worse.