The Greek Sculpture. Function, Materials, and Techniques in the Archaic and Classical Periods

'The essays are admirably up to date, and amply demonstrate how recent research has refined our understanding of Archaic and Classical Greek sculpture: it can no longer be regarded as a unitary phenomenon ... but is now seen as a complex scenario of interrelated developments, in which varying materials, regional workshops and differences of function were the determinant factors.' Roger Ling, The Antiquaries Journal 'This book is a collection of essays by leading authorities in their fields, discussing the material foundations of the sculptor's craft in Archaic and Classical Greece, from marble extraction to the practical production of different functional categories of monuments ... The concept of the book is an excellent one.' Jeremy Tanner, Journal of Hellenic Studies '... this book will be an invaluable reference work ...' Art Newspaper '... published and illustrated to Cambridge University Press's usual high standard. ... Olga Palagia has edited an important introduction to the subject.' Art Newspaper 'This is an excellent, hard-nosed look at the craft (in both senses of the word) of Greek sculpture, with first-rate bibliographies and detailed photographs.' Minerva.
Greek sculpture developed into a fine art in the archaic and classical periods. With the human figure as its main subject, artists worked to represent it in increasingly naturalistic terms. This book explores the material aspects of Greek sculpture at a pivotal phase in its evolution. Considering typologies and function, an international team of experts traces the development of technical characteristics of marble and bronze sculpture, the choice of particular marbles in different areas, and the types of monuments that were created on the Greek mainland, the islands and the west coast of Asia Minor. Taking a novel approach to a key topic in classical archaeology, this volume will serve as the groundwork for future research.