Salon 2 Paragraphs    

                              Etruscan Art was born in central Italy in between the 9th and 2nd centuries BC. It is a form of figurative art intoduced by Etruscan civilization. The most often used mediums in this art form were terracotta, cast bronze, wall painting and metal working. Etruscans were known as the first "super-power" of the westarn mediterranean who developed the earliest cities of Europe. Some cities they have established include Florence, Pisa, and Siena. Etruscans were also responsible for spreading literacy throughout the Italian Peninsula.

                                   Through trading many natural mineral resources found in Tuscany they were exposed to many new kinds of ideas, cultures. and art. Some of those people include the Greeks, Phonecians, and Egyptians. We know a lot today about Etruscan art because equipting themselves with different forms of art for the afterlife was extremely significant. When someone died he or she would be cremated and provided with another home for the afterlife. These houses for cremated remains were made out of unrefined clay.

                                 The Etruscan Art piece I chose is that of a piece of jewlery that is pictured to be a necklace, with earrings, rings, and all sorts of other accesories. The name of this piece is "gold and glass necklace". The period it was created in is the early 5th century BC by etruscan civilization. Today it is located in the Metropolitan Museum of art. The designs on the pieces of jewlery are very intricate and fine. And there are a variety of colors and stones. The main two mediums gold and glass are very easily identified just by looking at the piece. The different designs really speak volumes for the etruscans' creativity.

                                 Etruscans did not invent their decorative techniques all on their own they had many influences from all over the Mediterranean. The first designs included working designs on a surface with tiny granules of gold. Many imperfections on the jewlery were made on purpose to give the pieces artistic character. Etruscan jewlery is mostly made up of 18 karat gold but it can vary at times. Most of the jewlery was not even worn by the etruscans they were made to accompany them to the afterlife.