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The Oxford History of Classical Art
Lying at the heart of the Western classical tradition, the rich legacy of the arts of ancient Greece and Rome continues to provide inspiration and guidance to artists and art lovers everywhere. Lavishly illustrated and masterfully prepared under the editorship of John Boardman, one of the
world's preeminent classicists, The Oxford History of Classical Art offers readers the definitive companion to the artistic and architectural achievements of the Greco-Roman world, from the rise of the Greek city-states to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Written by Boardman and a team of distinguished experts, this sumptuous volume presents the full pageantry and glory of the classical world, tracing the origins and evolution of classical art as it gradually moved from the art of individuals and small communities to the art of a world power.
Particular attention is paid throughout to the splendor and quality of the arts themselves, aptly represented in 528 stunningly beautiful black and white and full-color plates. From the stiffly representational style of early antiquity and the oriental influence of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the full
flowering of the Greece's Golden Age, text and illustrations work together to enhance our appreciation of the fascinating process through which humanity itself became the central focus of art, and artists and artisans sought for the first time not just to imitate the natural world, but to actually
improve on nature through perfection of form and composition.
Turning to Rome, the contributors dramatically illustrate that Roman art was far more than a mere pastiche of Greek influences. They take an in-depth look at the Romans' profound contributions to architecture, as they used their technical progress with arch, vault, and the use of brick and
concrete, to create new attitudes to the use of space and light and principles of design which went far beyond the more limited ambitions of the Greek world.
Destined to become the definitive sourcebook in its field, The Oxford History of Classical Art is indispensable for anyone intrigued by the timeless heritage of the ancient world, as well as for artists and students of art and art history.
world's preeminent classicists, The Oxford History of Classical Art offers readers the definitive companion to the artistic and architectural achievements of the Greco-Roman world, from the rise of the Greek city-states to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Written by Boardman and a team of distinguished experts, this sumptuous volume presents the full pageantry and glory of the classical world, tracing the origins and evolution of classical art as it gradually moved from the art of individuals and small communities to the art of a world power.
Particular attention is paid throughout to the splendor and quality of the arts themselves, aptly represented in 528 stunningly beautiful black and white and full-color plates. From the stiffly representational style of early antiquity and the oriental influence of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the full
flowering of the Greece's Golden Age, text and illustrations work together to enhance our appreciation of the fascinating process through which humanity itself became the central focus of art, and artists and artisans sought for the first time not just to imitate the natural world, but to actually
improve on nature through perfection of form and composition.
Turning to Rome, the contributors dramatically illustrate that Roman art was far more than a mere pastiche of Greek influences. They take an in-depth look at the Romans' profound contributions to architecture, as they used their technical progress with arch, vault, and the use of brick and
concrete, to create new attitudes to the use of space and light and principles of design which went far beyond the more limited ambitions of the Greek world.
Destined to become the definitive sourcebook in its field, The Oxford History of Classical Art is indispensable for anyone intrigued by the timeless heritage of the ancient world, as well as for artists and students of art and art history.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 20, 2026
I read a lot of Greco-Roman classical history in the past, so forgive me if I skimmed a bit and just enjoyed the art in this one. The erotic nature of the Greeks and the somewhat more restrained concupiscence of the Romans definitely show through in their art. As an open bisexual, I get the appeal. I remember as a kid learning about the Romans; it was the engineering that got me interested. As an adult, the art calls to me. Definitely worth a look, especially if one wants to get beyond the monumental fascism and spectacle aspects of the ancient world.
December 16, 2021
Decent overview but the last segment was a mess both chronologically and argument wise. Reiterating some old art history narratives that are a bit colonial centric and outdated now, but not a bad read overall. Just very slow going even for someone like myself (with a MSt in Archaeology). Pretty pictures but lots of flipping around because they’re never near the text. Want to give it 3 stars but I’m feeling accomplished at finally finishing the hefty tome!
December 9, 2012
A selected encyclopedia of Greek and Roman art and architecture, arranged by era. Unfortunately, each entry is too short and lacking in detail to be of much help, other than to serve as a quick reminder of why a selected work might be significant. Though the contributors are among my favorite writers on Greek art and the illustrations are of high quality, I'd rather read in-depth works by Boardman, RRR Smith, and others. My quibbles are with the format rather than the quality of the work.
August 19, 2014
Molto interessante e costruttivo.
Per alcune opere l'ho trovato troppo riassuntivo (dove invece mi sarebbero piaciute spiegazioni più prolisse).
In generale si tratta di un buon manuale complessivo di Archeologia Classica.
Per alcune opere l'ho trovato troppo riassuntivo (dove invece mi sarebbero piaciute spiegazioni più prolisse).
In generale si tratta di un buon manuale complessivo di Archeologia Classica.
January 2, 2017
Getting a bit outdated now, but it's from Oxford, so it hardly matters. Great collection of Classical Art.
September 16, 2018
Required reading for one of my ancient art classes in college.
Review: Useful resource for study. I enjoyed this.
Review: Useful resource for study. I enjoyed this.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews