First published in 1937, this book is a critical examination of the Hermes and Dionysos of Praxiteles. Antonsson suggests a hypothesis on the original arrangement of the statuary group in the light of red figure vases, numismatic images, later imitations and reconstructions of varying quality, as well as analyzing the methods and techniques used to create the sculpture. This book will be of value to classicists and anyone with an interest in art history and ancient sculpture.
A landmark study of the nude in art—from the ancient Greeks to Henry Moore—by a towering figure in art history In this classic book, Kenneth Clark, one of the most eminent art historians of the twentieth century, examines the ever-changing fashion in what constitutes the ideal nude as a basis of humanist form, from the art of the ancient Greeks to that of Renoir, Matisse, and Henry Moore. The Nude reveals the sensitivity of aesthetic theory to fashion, what distinguishes the naked from the nude, and just why the nude has played such an important role in art history. As Clark writes, “The nude gains its enduring value from the fact that it reconciles several contrary states. It takes the most sensual and immediately interesting object, the human body, and puts it out of reach of time and desire; it takes the most purely rational concept of which man is capable, mathematical order, and makes it a delight to the senses; and it takes the vague fears of the unknown and sweetens them by showing that the gods are like men and may be worshipped for their life-giving beauty rather than their death-dealing powers.” Please note: All images in this ebook are presented in black and white and have been reduced in size.
The contributors in this volume present a systematic survey of the struggles of Athens, Sparta and Thebes to dominate Greece in the fourth century - only to be overwhelmed by the newly emerging Macedonian kingdom of Philip II. Additionally, the situation of Greeks in Sicily, Italy and Asia is portrayed, showing the geographical and political diffusion of the Greeks in a broader historical context. This book will provide the reader with a clearly drawn and vivid picture of the main events and leading personalities in this decisive period of Greek history.
This volume brings together the proceedings of an international and interdisciplinary symposium held at Budapest between 8th and 10th May 2014. It was the first event dealing exclusively with the temple of Zeus at Olympia, which was, at the time of its construction, the largest temple in mainland Greece, and which has remained the largest ancient building of the Peloponnese ever since. Contributors come from eight countries, namely Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, and the UK, and from several different fields of classical studies, including archaeology, ancient history, numismatics, epigraphy and architecture. The contributions deal with widely different aspects of the building and its sculptural decoration, including masons’ marks, metrology, the usage of different marbles, and depictions of invisible gods, and approach these issues from new and unique perspectives. Some papers focus on the cult of Zeus, or on inscriptions found in or on coins associated with the sanctuary; others describe how later authors might have used the monument, or bridge the gap between classical studies and the latest digital technologies applied to archaeology and cultural heritage. As such, all of the essays gathered here will inspire classical scholars to make use of these new research paths.
