The Via Latina Catacomb: Imitation and Discontinuity in Fourth-Century Roman Painting (College Art Association Monograph)

During the building of an apartment house on the Via Latina in Rome in 1955 a small Christian catacomb was brought to light, a chance archaeological discovery that turned out to be a startling revelation. The architectural form and painted decoration of the catacomb were much remarked—not only were they exceptionally lavish, they also proved exceedingly difficult to fit into the traditional picture of the development of Christian art in late antique Rome. The Via Latina Catacomb: Imitation and Discontinuity in Fourth-Century Roman Painting is the first in-depth study of the monument in terms of its structure and function. A single question that arises from the monument itself serves to focus the discussion: Why was the last chamber in the catacomb made as a copy of one of the first? But the question is also one that demands a comprehensive approach. Thus the catacomb is examined with regard to its construction, plan, and architectural form, as well as its style of painting and imagery. Frontmatter List of Illustrations (page vii) Preface (page xi) List of Abbreviations (page xiii) I The Problem of the Replication of Cubiculum C in Cubiculum O (page 1) II The Building of the Catacomb (page 5) III Painting Styles (page 23) IV Subjects and Uses of Imagery (page 51) V A Wider View: Implications and Causes (page 71) Bibliography (page 79) Index (page 85) Illustrations (page 89) This volume of the College Art Association Monograph series presents a critical study of 4th-century Roman painting.