Product Description

This fascinating new account of what happened in Greece from c.800 to 323 bc shows how sculptors and painters responded to the challenges they faced in the extremely formidable and ambitious world of the Greek city-state. The numerous symbols and images employed by their eastern Mediterranean neighbours on the one hand, and the explorations of what it was to be human embodied in the narratives with which Greek poets worked on the other, helped produce the rich diversity of forms apparent in Greek art. The drawings and sculptures of this period referred so intimately to the human form as to lead both ancient and modern theorists to talk in terms of the 'mimetic' role of art. The importance of what occurred still affects the way we see today. Ranging widely over the fields of sculpture, vase painting and the minor arts, this book provides a clear introduction to the art of archaic and classical Greece. By looking closely at the context in which and for which sculptures and paintings were produced, Robin Osborne demonstrates how artistic developments were both a product of, and contributed to, the intensely competitive life of the Greek city. 'brilliantly illustrates the purpose of this new series by focusing on the social and political context of Greek art . . . a different approach suggesting new perspectives and original connections . . . eye-opening and thought-provoking' Professor François Lissarrague, Ecoles des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris 'brings all that is best in the 'new' Classical art history to this exciting interpretation . . . No reader of Osborne's stimulating and engaging book will come away with their vision of Greek art unchanged' Jeremy Tanner, Institute of Archaeology, University of London

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165775 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

Dr Jeremy Tanner, Institute of Archaeology, University of London
"brings all that is best in the 'new' Classical art history to this exciting interpretation ... No reader of Osborne's stimulating and engaging book will come away with their vision of Greek art unchanged"

Review
a different approach suggesting new perspectives and original connections ... eye-opening and thought-provoking (Professor François Lissarrague, Ecoles des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris )

brings all that is best in the 'new' Classical art history to this exciting interpretation ... No reader of Osborne's stimulating and engaging book will come away with their vision of Greek art unchanged (Dr Jeremy Tanner, Institute of Archaeology, University of London )

Students of art will be intrigued and challenged by the methods employed and examples so cleverly chosen by one of our leading historians of Archaic and Classical Greece (Professor Joan Connelly, New York University )

Professor Joan Connelly, New York University
"Students of art will be intrigued and challenged by the methods employed and examples so cleverly chosen by one of our leading historians of Archaic and Classical Greece"

Customer Reviews

Great academic book
Robin Osborne's book is a fabulous addition to any Classical Studies student or anyone else interested in the subject. Well written and great scholarship. Highly recommended

An engaging introduction
This book looks at Greek arts and architecture from the -800s to the -300s. It is classical in this chronological take but the way it is written is very modern and will be very engaging to most readers.

It does establish the narrative of Archaic and Classical Greek Art with an approachable tone and expression, and it also gives room for a reflexive approach.

The reader is also offered the opportunity to follow the scholar in his questioning of the archaeological evidence and the formal analysis of objects towards wider conclusions about stylistic, technical and social evolutions.

Although every chapter is given a thematic title, the book follows overall a chronological development.

It is very generously illustrated, both in colours and in black and white, and wide margins leave plenty of space for the reader to jot down their thoughts or take some notes along the text.

Bought to compliment OU studies
I bought this book to compliment my OU study 'Experiencing the Classical World', not realising at the time that the author appears on one of the DVDs! I was wary about buying a book that I had not looked at in a bookstore, but I took a risk and it paid off. This book compliments the course perfectly but is also an interesting 'stand-alone' read.

The format is brilliant with very specific chapter titles so you can find what you want very quickly. The illustrations are in colour and are plentiful and the text is well written, informative and understandable. In short, it is a book about art that has rapidly become one of my favourite books. Definetly worth buying.