The Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum buried during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, then rediscovered in 1750 contained a large collection of bronze and marble statuary and busts. Before they were published or exhibited, the sculptures were restored so as to appear whole: it is thus that they helped to shape early modern tastes in classical sculpture. Scholars have sought to assign names to the individual busts and statues and to discover a unified, planned sculptural program for the decoration of the Villa dei Papiri. Here, however, more objective questions are asked: Are the bronzes...
The Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum buried during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, then rediscovered in 1750 contained a large collection of b...
Ancient bronze statuary provides a sense of immediacy, a window directly back to the classical world. The wistful expression of a young Roman woman, the fixed jaw of a politician, and the tensed muscles of a Greek athlete appear startlingly lifelike, transfixing the viewer with their striking realism. Incredibly durable yet frequently destroyed for their valuable materials, ancient bronzes are comparatively rare discoveries. This book, richly illustrated with works from the J. Paul Getty Museum and other important collections, provides an engaging overview of classical bronzes....
Ancient bronze statuary provides a sense of immediacy, a window directly back to the classical world. The wistful expression of a young Roman woman, t...
