British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture

British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture. The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture is a comprehensive publication that showcases the extensive collection of Greek sculpture at the British Museum, featuring works from renowned artists such as Phidias, Praxiteles, and Lysippos. This catalogue is an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts of Classical antiquity, including experts like Nikolaus Pevsner, John Boardman (art historian), and Martin Robertson (classical scholar). The catalogue provides detailed descriptions and analyses of the sculptures, highlighting their historical and cultural significance, as seen in the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plutarch.

Introduction

The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture is a testament to the museum's commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Ancient Greece, as evident in the works of Pericles, Alexander the Great, and Augustus. The catalogue is the result of a collaborative effort between esteemed scholars, including Andrew F. Stewart, Ian Jenkins (curator), and Lucilla Burn, who have contributed to the field of Classical archaeology through their research on Delphi, Olympia, and Ephesus. The publication is divided into several volumes, each focusing on a specific aspect of Greek sculpture, such as Archaic Greek sculpture, Classical Greek sculpture, and Hellenistic sculpture, as seen in the works of Myron (sculptor), Polykleitos, and Scopas. The catalogue also explores the historical context of the sculptures, including the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, and the Macedonian Wars, as described by Xenophon, Aristotle, and Polybius.

History of the Catalogue

The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture has a long history, dating back to the early 19th century, when the museum first began to acquire Greek sculptures, including the famous Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, which were acquired by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, and the Townley Marbles, collected by Charles Townley. The catalogue has undergone several revisions and updates, with contributions from prominent scholars such as Adolf Michaelis, Gisela Richter, and John Boardman (art historian), who have written extensively on Greek art and Roman art. The catalogue has also been influenced by the work of other institutions, such as the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which have hosted exhibitions on Greek sculpture, including the works of Bertel Thorvaldsen and Antonio Canova. The catalogue's development has been shaped by the discoveries of Heinrich Schliemann at Troy and Mycenae, as well as the excavations at Delos and Corinth, conducted by French School at Athens and American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Scope and Organization

The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture is a comprehensive publication that covers a wide range of topics related to Greek sculpture, including Greek mythology, Greek architecture, and Greek pottery, as seen in the works of Euphronios, Euthymides, and Exekias. The catalogue is organized chronologically, with each volume focusing on a specific period, such as the Archaic period, the Classical period, and the Hellenistic period, as described by Herodotus, Thucydides, and Polybius. The catalogue also includes detailed descriptions of the sculptures, including their materials, techniques, and provenance, as well as discussions of their historical and cultural significance, as seen in the works of Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles. The publication features contributions from experts in the field, including Robin Lane Fox, Paul Cartledge, and Edith Hall, who have written extensively on Ancient Greek history and Classical literature.

Notable Sculptures

The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture features many notable sculptures, including the Discobolus of Myron, the Doryphoros, and the Laocoön and His Sons, which are considered some of the greatest works of Greek art, as seen in the writings of Pliny the Elder and Quintilian. The catalogue also includes discussions of other famous sculptures, such as the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Borghese Hermaphroditus, which are housed in museums such as the Louvre and the Vatican Museums, and have been studied by scholars like Johann Joachim Winckelmann and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. The publication provides detailed analyses of these sculptures, highlighting their historical and cultural significance, as well as their artistic and technical merits, as seen in the works of Leon Battista Alberti and Giorgio Vasari.

Catalogue Volumes

The British Museum Catalogue of Greek Sculpture is a multi-volume publication, with each volume focusing on a specific aspect of Greek sculpture, such as Greek sculpture of the Archaic period, Greek sculpture of the Classical period, and Greek sculpture of the Hellenistic period, as described by Pausanias and Strabo. The catalogue includes contributions from experts in the field, including Andrew F. Stewart, Martin Robertson (classical scholar), and Ian Jenkins (curator), who have written extensively on Greek art and Roman art. The publication features detailed descriptions and analyses of the sculptures, highlighting their historical and cultural significance, as well as their artistic and technical merits, as seen in the works of Donatello and Michelangelo. The catalogue is an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts of Classical antiquity, including experts like Nikolaus Pevsner, John Boardman (art historian), and Martin Robertson (classical scholar), and is widely used by institutions such as the British School at Athens and the German Archaeological Institute.

Category:Art catalogues