The Etruscans
Italian artistic history begins with the Etruscans , whose culture spanned the seventh to the first centuries BC. Etruscan art was distinct from that of Greece, then the dominant nation both politically and artistically, though in many other respects it consistently shows the impact of contemporary trends in Greece. Many of the finest Etruscan sculptures date from the sixth century BC. Among the best examples, both now in the Villa Giulia in Rome, are the Apollo and Herakles from Veio, and the Sarcophagus of a Married Couple from Cerveteri, the reclining figures of the latter a typical motif of Etruscan art - the faces realistic and expressive, with prominent eyes and enigmatic smiles, but otherwise scant attention paid to human anatomy. Depictions of animals, both real and imaginary, were also common, most famous among which are the Chimera from Arezzo, now in the Museo Archeologico in Florence, and Rome's own emblem, the She-Wolf , in the Palazzo dei Conservatori - both from the fifth century BC. Surviving Etruscan wall paintings are surprisingly numerous, especially considering that (apart from a few at Paestum) all of their Greek counterparts in Italy have vanished. The most outstanding array is in Tarquinia, which preserves examples ranging from the sixth to the first century BC; another fine group is at Chiusi. These paintings were at first of a religious or magic nature, initially intending to provide an amenable environment for the dead. Later, visionary views of the afterlife were attempted. With their bold drawing, bright colours and lively details, they have an immediate visual appeal.
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