No. 236. Acanthus Scroll. Brush-work.
The Greeks were not creative in art either in their architecture or ornament, and were evidently indebted to the earlier culture of Mesopotamia for many of their details. As they based the anthemion on the Assyrian treatment of the Palm, so they borrowed the Ionic capital from Persia and the Corinthian variety had its prototype in the Egyptian Papyrus capital. Even their architecture was no advance in principle on that which previously existed.
Their treatment, however, was extremely artistic, and they invested all their work with great refinement and delicacy of detail. At a later period under subjugation the Roman art development was practically in the hands of Greek designers and craftsmen, and acquired great freedom of expression marked by exquisite workmanship in the Græco-Roman period.
Roman Development
The details and treatment of ornament developed rapidly in the Roman period, in the variety and forms of the elements employed. The principal exponents were Greek, but the original austere character of expression underwent considerable modification.
The Scroll
In Roman art the scroll, which constituted the chief decoration of the friezes and panels, was greatly developed and rendered with more freedom and variety of treatment; assuming the form of a growing or climbing stem, bearing flowers and clothed with leaves. A treatment which is fairly consistent with such types as the Vine and other climbing growths in nature.
The undulating stem with branching scrolls is prominent, both in friezes and panels; the character of the foliage became more varied, the stiff and formal acanthus leaf being only used in the capitals of columns and in structural features.