What defined artistic production during Emperor Trajan's reign?

Trajanic art represents the artistic and architectural production of the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Trajan from 98 to 117 AD. During this period, Roman art further developed the innovations of the preceding Flavian era. Crucially, it marked a time when Roman artistic expression definitively detached itself from Hellenistic influence, while also sharing historical categorization traits as a defined period in Roman art history alongside other distinct artistic movements.

What we know

• Trajanic art is classified as a specific period in Roman art history spanning the reign of Emperor Trajan from 98 to 117. [1, 2]
• During the Trajanic period, Roman art further developed the innovations established in the Flavian era. [2]
• Trajanic art marked a point where Roman art definitively detached itself from Hellenistic influence. [2]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat were the major innovations of the Flavian era?
• compared withHow did Hellenistic influence shape earlier Roman art?
• whoWho was Emperor Trajan?
• a case in pointWhat are prominent examples of Trajanic architecture?
• the bigger pictureHow does Trajanic art fit into the wider history of Roman art?
• an unexpected connectionHow did early Christian artists utilize Roman forms?Just as Trajanic art built upon and moved away from prior classical foundations, early Christian artists adapted existing Roman artistic styles and media while giving pagan symbols new meanings.

Sources

• [1]Trajanic art (Wikidata Q3624162) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Trajanic art · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Art Nouveau · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Early Christian art and architecture · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Merovingian art and architecture · CC BY-SA 4.0