The Greek vase
Subtitle: art of the storyteller
By: John H. Oakley
Contributors: J. Paul Getty Museum; British Museum
Publisher: Getty Publications
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 155
ISBN-13: 9781606061473
Subjects: Vase-painting, Greek; Greek Vases
Description: This richly illustrated volume offers a fascinating introduction to ancient Greek vases for the general reader. It presents vases not merely as beautiful vessels to hold water and wine, but also as instruments of storytelling and bearers of meaning. The first two chapters analyze the development of different shapes of pottery and relate those shapes to function, the evolution in vase production techniques and decoration, and the roles of potters, painters, and their workshops. Subsequent chapters focus on vases as the primary source of imagery from ancient Greece, offering unique information about mythology, religion, theater, and daily life. The author discusses how to identify the figures and scenes depicted in vase paintings, what these narratives would have meant to the people who lived with them and used them, and how they therefore reflect the cultural values of their time. Also examined is the impact Greek vases had on the art, architecture, and literature of subsequent generations.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Fabric, form and function; title: Potters and painters; title: Depicting the divine; title: Meeting the myth-makers; title: A life well lived; title: Seducing the senses.