Greek Art

Surveys Greek art between 600 and 300 BC, concentrating on recent research. Organised chronologically, with over 50 images.

This survey of Greek art looks at material culture between 600 and 300 BC, concentrating on research from the past twenty years where new discoveries have queried and overturned old interpretations. Organised chronologically in terms of media, it is accompanied by fifty images, largely in colour.This survey, which centres mainly on Greek sculpture and vase-painting from 600 to 300 BC, examines research over the past twenty years. Organised chronologically in terms of media (free-standing sculpture, architectural sculpture, luxury items, ceramics), the chapters discuss polychromy, the ethics of collecting and the relationship between scenes of myth and everyday life. Attention is also paid to new approaches that question the concept of 'art' in Classical Greece (what is known as the 'paradigm shift') in which the purposes, contexts and effect of material culture are given greater prominence. To summarise recent research, the author adopts a balance between a broad treatment and detailed description. The text and images (fifty in number and largely in colour) will be particularly useful to students and teachers but will have a wider appeal.