The Art of Vase-Painting in Classical Athens

Description

In his new book, Professor Martin Robertson - author of A History of Greek Art (CUP 1975) and A Shorter History of Greek Art (CUP 1981) - draws together the results of a lifetime's study of Greek vase-painting, tracing the history of figure-drawing on Athenian pottery from the invention of the 'red-figure' technique in the later archaic period to the abandonment of figured vase-decoration two hundred years later. The book covers red-figure and also work produced over the same period in the same workshops in black-figure and other techniques, especially that of drawing in outline on a white ground. The book is intended as a companion volume to Sir John Beazley's The Development of Attic Black-figure (originally published in 1951 by California University Press), and as an examination and defence of Beazley's methods and achievements. This book is a major contribution to the history of Greek vase-painting and anyone seriously interested in the subject - whether scholar, student, curator, collector or amateur - will find it essential reading.

"...a clear and enjoyable style. Robertson's life-long experience in the field of Greek art brings authority and depth to the study. The significant themes, for instance, are discussed in the light of a vast knowledge of Greek mythology, history, and culture." Religious Studies Review "...a thorough, sober, yet critical, and very scholarly work which will provide hours of learned company for the specialist art historian, and from which the nonspecialist reader can derive extensive information and great enjoyment." Birgitte Ginge, Classical World