Greek Art

By John Boardman

Book Overview

"Greek Art" is a comprehensive survey of the aesthetic achievements and evolution of artistic expression in ancient Greece. This foundational work traces the development of Greek art from its early geometric origins through the high classical period and into the Hellenistic era. The book explores a wide range of media, including pottery, monumental sculpture, and architecture, highlighting the innovative techniques and idealistic forms that would come to define Western art for centuries.

The text examines how Greek artists moved beyond formal conventions to master the representation of the human body and narrative storytelling. By contextualizing these artistic developments within the broader social and political shifts of the time, "Greek Art" provides readers with a deep understanding of how these works functioned in their original environments. This study remains an essential resource for students, historians, and art enthusiasts seeking to appreciate the timeless beauty and intellectual depth of ancient Greek civilization.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025694376
• ISBN13: 9781025694375
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction by an authority on Greek art

A knighted professor of classical archaeology and art at Oxford University who conducted digs at several sites of the ancient Greek empire, the author certainly has the credentials to provide an authoritative introduction to Greek art. Starting at about the eighth century B.C., when Grecian art was beginning to reassert itself after the dark ages following the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, this survey examines its development through the periods of archaic Greece, classical Greece, the Hellenistic world, and finally looks briefly at its influence in more modern times. Professor Boardman certainly never gushes over his subject, but brings his professional expertise to bear in a balanced, and, sometimes critical manner, showing us the important trends. His emphasis is on representative works of each school or period, rather than highlighting the works most commonly recognized by the general public. Indeed, he lets us know that he feels the public has an inaccurate conception of Greek art due to the prevalence of idealizations by later copyists. He traces the evolution of this art primarily through the mediums of architecture, sculpture, and painted vases, although some attention is given to other artifacts such as cups, gems, seals, and mosaics. The book is profusely illustrated with photographs of one or more artwork on almost every page. The text is highly cultured and literate, but also very clear. I found myself heading to the dictionary or the internet a few times, but no more than might be expected from reading an intelligently written book on an unfamiliar subject. Not only did I learn a great deal about the progression of Greek art, but, by the way, gained knowledge of the historical phases of Greek civilization. Sturdy binding, clear type and photographs reproduced on thick paper, and compact size for an art book added to the enjoyment of reading. It seems a shame, evidenced by the sparseness of reviews, that such a worthwhile book has such a small readership, particularly when it can be had for such a low purchase price, either new or used.

Well Illustrated Historical Survey

I was introduced to this book initially as a supplemental text in a college class on Ancient Greece many years ago. I picked it up again recently and found it to be a fascinating and enlightening survey of Greek Art History. Exploring the progression and connection between various periods, techniques and styles, the book is very well illustrated and edited. Each section contains numerous examples that clearly demonstrate the points made in the accompanying text. The earliest geometric works , the archaic styles of Minoan and Mycenaen culture, and the classical period are all well described and represented. To the general reader who is not an art historian this is an incredibly easy guide to follow that will enrich your understanding of the importance of these cultures and the works they left behind.