Lord Elgin and Ancient Greek Architecture
The Elgin Drawings at the British Museum

This book analyses the collection of archaeological drawings drawn in Greece by a team of artists and architects in the service of Lord Elgin.

Luciana Gallo (Author)

9780521881630, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 June 2009

362 pages, 201 b/w illus.
28.7 x 22.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.32 kg

"Gallo's book offers a different, broader perspective on Elgin's role with respect to the Parthenon and contributes to a deeper understanding of the Athenian monument and its reception in the 19th century....Highly recommended."
--Choice

This book analyses the rich and remarkable collection of archaeological drawings, now housed in The British Museum, drawn in Greece by a team of architects and artists in the service of Lord Elgin during his ambassadorial expedition to the Levant (1799–1803). Luciana Gallo offers a new interpretation of Elgin's interest in antiquities and reveals the aims, innovative approach, and significant achievements of this specialised tour. She also reveals his contribution to the advancement of contemporary archaeological studies carried out by British and continental scholars, in connection to the search for original sources to promote Greek Revival architecture. This is the first time that the bulk of the Elgin Drawings collection in the British Museum has been published. The volume will thus serve as an indispensable guide to scholars and students of ancient Greek architecture and sculpture, as well as of nineteenth-century architectural revivalism.

1. Early expeditions to Greece
2. Lord Elgin's eastern expedition
3. History of the Elgin drawings
4. Critical analysis of the Elgin drawings
5. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Architecture [AM]