Greek Art (Art & Ideas)

This account of Greek art (c3000-c100BC) sets the formation of the Classical style in its historical context. The paticular social, political and religious factors involved in the patronage of buildings, sculpture and paintings are explored. The development of Greek art is traced from antecedents in Minoan and Mycenaean times to the Hellenistic world after Alexander. Throughout the book art is explained not only in terms of those who created and commisioned it, but also with reference to the archaeology of the places which hosted it - sanctuaries such as Olympia and Delphi, or urban showplaces such as Pergamum.