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All About Purple: An Introduction

 

When thinking of the Imperial Roman Empire and the many Emperors that took rule through the centuries, we recall the imagery and symbolism carried with it through art. The representation of Emperors in their dress was constantly depicted in purple robes. Purple thereby became associated with Roman Imperial Emperors in art, portraiture, and architecture. The extraction process of each material, porphyry and murex dye, held great difficulty and was therefore expensive. With the large price tag of these materials use, it was then only the Emperors that could take advantage of these products. Through such restricted usage, association grew between emperor rule to porphyry and murex dye. The rarity of the colour purple and complexity of its production and extraction during the Imperial Roman Empire was the reason for its use as a status symbol and aesthetic antiquity.

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Purple in Your Water?

Writer: SydneySydney
Apr 16, 20181 min read

Currently being housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a porphyry support for a water basin (The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2018). The porphyry support is dated to the second century BCE, and stated that it was more than likely that its use in antiquity was within a large imperial bath complex (The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2018). Porphyry being used during this time period, depicting power and authority, the sculpture in its context of place holds importance and insights to daily Roman life. Imperial bath complexes in antiquity were a popular place to be and spend time. In relation to this, emperors often commissioned grand projects for Roman citizen use. In this case, for a Roman Emperor to commemorate water basin supports made of porphyry, said Emperor is then praised by the Roman public. Through the act of dedicating a material of high rank and association to the people in an important space, the emperor is demonstrating such rule and power. With this act, it becomes evident why such an emperor associated material was used for commissioned projects as this one. The Emperor would thereby gain or retain popularity with Roman citizens. Further, the public is reminded that only a powerful and high ranking Emperor can dedicate a reserved material for their self-use back to the Roman public in daily life.

Accession Number:1992.11.70 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2018)

 
 
 

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