Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World - Hardcover

Dunbabin, Katherine M. D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 052146143X ISBN 13: 9780521461436

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

This book provides a comprehensive account of mosaics in the ancient world from the early pebble mosaics of Greece to the pavements of Christian churches in the East. Separate chapters in Part I cover the principal regions of the Roman Empire in turn, in order to bring out the distinctive characteristics of their mosaic workshops. Questions of technique and production, of the role of mosaics in architecture, and of their social functions and implications are treated in Part II. The book discusses both well-known works and recent finds, and balances consideration of exceptional masterpieces against standard workshop production. Two main lines of approach are followed throughout: first, the role of mosaics as a significant art form, which over an unbroken span illuminates the evolution of pictorial style better than any comparable surviving medium; and secondly, their character as works of artisan production closely linked to their architectural context.

About this title

Review:

'This book is a masterpiece of visual, historical, technical and social analysis.' Peter Jones, The Sunday Telegraph

' ... this is an exceptionally thorough analysis that will surely establish itself as the starting point for the study of mosaics for scholar and general reader alike.' The Art Newspaper

'There has been a need for a reliable, up-to-date general book on ancient mosaics ... The lack of proper synthesis has prevented mosaics from receiving the attention they deserve and it is to be hoped that this excellent book will succeed in making a neglected art form more accessible to a wider audience, whether of academics, students, or general readers.' Journal of Roman Studies

' ... prints no less than 318 pictures of mosaics that make fascinating viewing and are worth the cost of the book.' Archaeological Diggings

Book Description:

This is the first major study of the art of mosaic in antiquity. Covering over a thousand years through an area from Britain to Syria and beautifully illustrated with over 350 photographs, it studies the technical aspects and social implications of mosaics as domestic and public decoration.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 052146143X
• ISBN 13: 9780521461436
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 379