An Introduction to Greek Art: Sculpture and Vase Painting in the Archaic and Classical Periods, Edition 2

Susan Woodford

Feb 2015 · Bloomsbury Publishing

About this ebook

The four centuries between the composition of the Homeric epics and the conquests of Alexander the Great witnessed an immensely creative period in Greek art, one full of experimentation and innovation. But time has taken its toll; damaged statues have lost their colour and wall paintings have been totally destroyed. And yet sympathetic study of surviving sculpture and of drawing on vases can give extraordinary insight into and appreciation of these once brilliant works

This book, designed originally for students, introduces the reader to Greek sculpture and vase painting in the critical period from the eighth to the fourth centuries BC. The works discussed are generously illustrated and lucidly analysed to give a vivid picture of the splendor of Greek art. The up-dated second edition includes a new chapter examining art in Greek society, a timeline to help relate artistic development to historical events, an explanation of how dates BC are arrived at, a brief overview of Greek temple plans and a further reading list of recent books.

This clear, approachable and rigorous introduction makes the beauty of Greek art more readily accessible and comprehensible, balancing description with interpretation and illustration, and is an invaluable tool to help develop insight, appreciation and comprehension.

About the author

Susan Woodford is an independent scholar who has written five other books for the general reader: The Parthenon (1981), The Art of Greece and Rome (2004), Looking at Pictures and Images of Myths in Classical Antiquity (2002, winner of the Criticos Prize 2003), and The Trojan War in Ancient Art (Bloomsbury Academic, 1993).