Pliny's Catalogue of Culture: Art and Empire in the Natural History (Oxford Studies in Ancient Culture and Representation)

one Of The Earliest Surviving Examples Of Art History, Pliny The Elder's Chapters On Art Form Part Of His Encyclopedic natural History , Completed Shortly Before Its Author Died During The Eruption Of Vesuvius In Ad 79. This Important New Work Reassesses Pliny's Discussion Of Art, Revealing How Art Is Used To Expound The Roman Imperial Agenda Which Dominates The Work As A Whole. One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History. This important study reassesses Pliny's discussion of art, revealing how art is used to expound the Roman imperial agenda which dominates the work as a whole.-;One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History, completed shortly before its author died during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. This important new work argues that the Natural History offers a sophisticated account of the world as empire, in which art as much as geography can be used to expound a Roman imperial agenda. Reuniting the 'chapters on art' with the rest ofthe Natural History, Sorcha Carey considers how the medium of the 'encyclopaedia' affects Pliny's presentation of art, and reveals how art is used to explore themes important to the work as a whole. Throughout, the author demonstrates that Pliny's 'chapters on art' are a profoundly Roman creation, offering an importantinsight into responses to art and culture under the early Roman empire This Book Reveals How Pliny's Presentation Of Greek Art Is Profoundly Roman; And That Beyond His Account Of Greek Sculpture And Painting, Pliny Stands As An Equally Important Source On Roman Art - Whether In His Discussion Of Roman Portraiture Or Early Imperial Monuments. The Author Argues That Pliny's Art History Can Only Be Properly Understood When Viewed Within The Wider Context Of The Work As A Whole. From This Perspective The Chapters On Art Cease To Become An Isolated Collection Of Facts On The Art And Artists Of The Ancient World, And Emerge Instead As An Essential Part Of Pliny's Sophisticated Project To Transform His Encyclopaedic Account Of The World Into A Catalogue Of Roman World Empire.--jacket. In Search Of The Invisible Man -- The Strategies Of Encyclopaedism -- Representing Empire: Monuments And The Creation Of Roman Space -- The Problem Of Totality : Collecting Greek Art, Wonders, And Luxury -- The Artifice Of Nature -- Imaging Memory -- Conclusion. Sorcha Carey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [184]-191) And Indexes. One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History, completed shortly before its author died during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. This important new work argues that the Natural History offers a sophisticated account of the world as empire, in which art as much as geography can be used to expound a Roman imperial agenda. Reuniting the 'chapters on art' with the rest of the Natural History, Sorcha Carey considers how the medium of the 'encyclopaedia' affects Pliny's presentation of art, and reveals how art is used to explore themes important to the work as a whole. Throughout, the author demonstrates that Pliny's 'chapters on art' are a profoundly Roman creation, offering an important insight into responses to art and culture under the early Roman empire One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History. This important study reassesses Pliny's discussion of art, revealing how art is used to expound the Roman imperial agenda which dominates the work as a whole. - ;One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History, completed shortly before its author died during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. This important new work argues that the Natural History offers a sophisti One of the earliest surviving examples of 'art history', Pliny the Elder's 'chapters on art' form part of his encyclopaedic Natural History, completed shortly before its author died during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. This important new work reassesses Pliny's discussion of art, revealing how art is used to expound the Roman imperial agenda which dominates the work as a whole. This title argues that Pliny's encyclopaedic "Natural History" offers a sophisticated account of the world as empire, in which art can be used to expound a Roman imperial agenda. This text considers how the medium affects Pliny's presentation and uses of art in this context Despite the practice, from the Renaissance onwards, of recognizing famous literary figures from the ancient world in the surviving portraiture, no ancient portrait has ever been identified as Pliny the Elder.