Looking at Greek Art

A practical guide to the methods for approaching, analysing and contextualising an unfamiliar piece of Greek art.

Mark D. Stansbury-O'Donnell (Author)

9780521125574, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 December 2010

268 pages, 82 b/w illus.
25.5 x 17.7 x 1.3 cm, 0.55 kg

'Stansbury-O'Donnell's book will give students of Greek art a good sense of the range of interpretive tools they have at their disposal; it will also, I suspect, help more experienced researchers to identify the weak points in their own mastery of method and theory.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Looking at Greek Art by Mark D. Stansbury-O'Donnell offers a practical guide to the methods for approaching, analysing and contextualising an unfamiliar piece of Greek art. It demonstrates how objects are dated and assigned to an artist or region; how to interpret the subject matter and narrative; how to reconstruct the context for which an object was made, distributed and used; and how we can explore broader cultural perspectives by looking at questions of identity, gender and relationships to surrounding cultures. Each section focuses on different theoretical approaches, providing an overview of the theories, key terms and required evidence. Case studies serve to demonstrate each process and some key issues to consider when using a given approach. This book explores a variety of media, including terracotta, metalwork and jewellery, in addition to works found in major museum collections in the United States and Europe.

1. The study and presentation of Greek art
2. Description and visual analysis
3. Meaning
4. Context
5. Identity.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], History of art: ancient & classical art,BCE to c 500 CE [ACG]