Roman Sculpture in Context

This volume tackles the issue of insufficient information about the find locations of Roman sculptures in scholarship and teaching. It prioritizes content and context over traditions of style and aesthetics, using case studies to illustrate multivariate ways to contextualize ancient objects. The authors encourage Roman art historians to look beyond conventional interpretations, consider the multiple, dynamic, and shifting contexts that sculptures could experience, and recognize post-antique receptions as a source of insight into ancient viewers' interpretations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2021
Publisher: Lockwood Press

This comprehensive volume addresses a critical concern in Roman art history, namely the lack of comprehensive information regarding the precise locations of numerous sculptures that are commonly utilized in academic discourse and teaching. The complexities of context pose significant challenges, and any theoretical and methodological reevaluation of Roman sculpture necessitates academic transparency. This volume is specifically devoted to prioritizing content and context over traditional stylistic and aesthetic conventions. Through a series of case studies, the chapters showcase diverse approaches to contextualizing ancient artifacts. The authors encourage Roman art historians to venture beyond conventional interpretations, to reclaim the Roman originals that are often overshadowed in discussions of copies and models, to consider the multifaceted and ever-evolving contexts in which a sculpture could be displayed throughout centuries, and to acknowledge that post-antique receptions can also provide valuable insights into the interpretations of ancient viewers.

The collected topics in this volume were originally presented during three conference sessions: Grounding Roman Sculpture (Archaeological Institute of America, 2019), Ancient Sculpture in Context (College Art Association, 2017), and Ancient Sculpture in Context II: Reception (College Art Association, 2019).

Weight: 654g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781948488631