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The Horse in Ancient Greek Art
A unique illustrated book, focusing on the significance of the horse in ancient Greek culture
Horses were revered in ancient Greece as symbols of wealth, power, and status. On stunning black- and red-figure vases, in sculpture, and in other media, Greek artists depicted the daily care of horses, chariot and horseback races, scenes of combat, and mythological horse-hybrids such as satyrs and the winged Pegasus.
This richly illustrated and handsomely designed volume includes over 80 objects showing scenes of ancient equestrian life. Essays by notable scholars of ancient Greek art and archaeology explore the indelible presence and significance horses occupied in numerous facets of ancient Greek culture, including myth, war, sport, and competition, shedding new light on horsemanship from the 8th through the 4th century BCE.
Published by the National Sporting Library & Museum in partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, VA
(09/09/17–01/14/18) Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
(02/17/18–07/08/18)
Horses were revered in ancient Greece as symbols of wealth, power, and status. On stunning black- and red-figure vases, in sculpture, and in other media, Greek artists depicted the daily care of horses, chariot and horseback races, scenes of combat, and mythological horse-hybrids such as satyrs and the winged Pegasus.
This richly illustrated and handsomely designed volume includes over 80 objects showing scenes of ancient equestrian life. Essays by notable scholars of ancient Greek art and archaeology explore the indelible presence and significance horses occupied in numerous facets of ancient Greek culture, including myth, war, sport, and competition, shedding new light on horsemanship from the 8th through the 4th century BCE.
Published by the National Sporting Library & Museum in partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, VA
(09/09/17–01/14/18) Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
(02/17/18–07/08/18)
- GenresArt HistoryArt
160 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 16, 2018
Saw this exhibit at Richmond MFA. Thrilling stuff, especially if you dig all things antiquitous and equine. My favorite piece was a horse bit with small sculpted horse on each side -- oh those cheeky Greeks and their playful sense of decoration.
The book captures spirit of exhibit quite well. All color plates, small and large. Next best thing to seeing it in person.
And at $30 (pb), not an exorbitant price, considering high production quality.
The book captures spirit of exhibit quite well. All color plates, small and large. Next best thing to seeing it in person.
And at $30 (pb), not an exorbitant price, considering high production quality.
January 30, 2019
I never got a chance to go to the exhibition this was associated with, but it's a lovely catalogue to own nonetheless, if you have any interest in horses or in Ancient Greek art. Or both! Both is good, as the meme goes.
About half the book (80 pages or so) is the actual exhibition catalogue, with color photographs of everything. If you can't go see the exhibition, it's the next best thing. The other half of the book is a collection of articles about the horse in Greek art and Greek mythology (so, yeah, there are some lovely Pegasus images if that's your thing), chariots in Greek art, racing, and of course the probably-obligatory article on Xenophon's On Horsemanship.
Anyway, yes, recommended.
About half the book (80 pages or so) is the actual exhibition catalogue, with color photographs of everything. If you can't go see the exhibition, it's the next best thing. The other half of the book is a collection of articles about the horse in Greek art and Greek mythology (so, yeah, there are some lovely Pegasus images if that's your thing), chariots in Greek art, racing, and of course the probably-obligatory article on Xenophon's On Horsemanship.
Anyway, yes, recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews