The Greek Body

About this book

A lavish exploration of the human figure in Greek art. From idealized beauty to highly individualized portraits the sculptures featured in this exquisite volume demonstrate the incredible range and appeal of bodies made by the hands of the ancient Greeks. More than any other ancient civilization the Greeks placed the human body at the center of their culture. To them the sculpted human figure was both an object of sensory delight and an expression of an intelligent mind. In the modern popular imagination mention of the ancient Greeks is likely to conjure up an image of idealized and naked youth and it is true that the ideal nude both male and female is a striking feature of Greek sculpture. However in later Greek art sculptors and their patrons became increasingly interested in human diversity experimenting with the representation of ethnicity age social standing and character. The marble bronze and terra-cotta sculptures presented in this volumeoutstanding highlights drawn from over six centuries of artistic productiondemonstrate the diversity of Greek figural forms from the idealized beauty of the Classical era to the individualized portraits of the Hellenistic period. Large stunning details testify to the artists skills in portraying cold hard materials as warm human flesh.