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Art of Etruria and Early Rome
Tipped-in color plates. A nice reference. A good value due to competition.
257 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1965
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August 9, 2021
Although almost 60 years old, this work still stands as an excellent introduction to Etruscan art. The quality of the photographic reproductions is poor by today's standards but this is more than compensated for by the large number of excellent drawings. The author, G.A. Mansuelli who was at the time of publication a professor at both the universities of Bologna and Pavia, provides a cautious and rigorous synthesis of the monographs that had appeared during the prior 30 years on the various aspects of Etruscan Art.
Mansuelli divides the overall body of works into 5 periods:
-1- Villanovan. (900 B.C. to 700 B.C.). Characterized by geometric decoration.
-2- Orientalizing. (700 B.C. to 575 B.C.). Characterized by subjects with large noses and almonds-shaped eyes. Features common in Greek Art as the time.
-3- Archaic. (575 B.C to 480 B.C.). Scenes from Greek mythology become prominent.
-4- Classical. (480 B.C. to 300 B.C.). Stone sarcophagi and bronze statues become important.
-5- Hellenistic. (300 B.C. to 50 B.C.). Roman and Etruscan art merge into one.
In Mansuelli's view was Etruscan art was Italian in nature but evolved in parallel with Greek art. essentially Italian.
Ultimately, Mansuelli judges Etruscan art rather harshly in comparison to Greek Art: "Conditioned morally by its religious dogmatism and formalism of rites, in practice, it sought after the beautiful as an expression of wealth rather than as an expression of an intimate aesthetic need." (p. 24)
For Mansuelli, the biggest difficulty in studying Etruscan art is that most of the works have been lost and the academic must base his or her conclusions primarily on funerary art.
Mansuelli's book has aged very well. If you discover a copy in your house or summer cottage, it is certainly worth reading.
Mansuelli divides the overall body of works into 5 periods:
-1- Villanovan. (900 B.C. to 700 B.C.). Characterized by geometric decoration.
-2- Orientalizing. (700 B.C. to 575 B.C.). Characterized by subjects with large noses and almonds-shaped eyes. Features common in Greek Art as the time.
-3- Archaic. (575 B.C to 480 B.C.). Scenes from Greek mythology become prominent.
-4- Classical. (480 B.C. to 300 B.C.). Stone sarcophagi and bronze statues become important.
-5- Hellenistic. (300 B.C. to 50 B.C.). Roman and Etruscan art merge into one.
In Mansuelli's view was Etruscan art was Italian in nature but evolved in parallel with Greek art. essentially Italian.
Ultimately, Mansuelli judges Etruscan art rather harshly in comparison to Greek Art: "Conditioned morally by its religious dogmatism and formalism of rites, in practice, it sought after the beautiful as an expression of wealth rather than as an expression of an intimate aesthetic need." (p. 24)
For Mansuelli, the biggest difficulty in studying Etruscan art is that most of the works have been lost and the academic must base his or her conclusions primarily on funerary art.
Mansuelli's book has aged very well. If you discover a copy in your house or summer cottage, it is certainly worth reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review