This book explores the role of description in the interpretation of ancient Greek statuary. Although scholars have emphasised the importance of separating objective evaluation of evidence from interpretation, in practice it has proved difficult to draw this distinction. Even at the level of observation and vocabulary, the scholarship on Greek sculpture has been moulded by concepts and convictions that impose particular interpretations on the material. This study examines the scholarship on a select number of well-known Greek statues from the eighteenth century through the present. The impact of the historical, cultural and intellectual contexts that produced this specialised scholarship is demonstrated through considerations of issues such as ethnicity, psychology, theories about artistic form, and evolving conceptions of nude and clothed figures.

This book explores the role of description in the interpretation of ancient Greek statuary. Although scholars have emphasised the importance of separating objective evaluation of evidence from interpretation, in practice it has proved difficult to draw this distinction. Even at the level of observation and vocabulary, the scholarship on Greek sculpture has been moulded by concepts and convictions that impose particular interpretations on the material. This study examines the scholarship on a select number of well-known Greek statues from the eighteenth century through the present. The impact of the historical, cultural and intellectual contexts that produced this specialised scholarship is demonstrated through considerations of issues such as ethnicity, psychology, theories about artistic form, and evolving conceptions of nude and clothed figures.

This 2003 book treats the historiography of ancient Near Eastern and Classical art, examining the social, intellectual and institutional contexts that have shaped the way that the history of ancient art has been and continues to be written. It demonstrates how, from the Renaissance to the time of publication, the study and interpretation of ancient art reflect contemporary ideas and practices. Among the subjects considered are the classical tradition in the post-antique West; the emergence of academic disciplines; the role of collections in the evaluation of ancient art; and issues of race, gender, and cultural authority in the interpretation of ancient civilisations.