The Emergence of the Classical Style in Greek Sculpture

In this wide-ranging study, Richard Neer offers a new way to understand the epoch-making sculpture of classical Greece. Working at the intersection of art history, archaeology, literature, and aesthetics, he reveals a people fascinated with the power of sculpture to provoke wonder in beholders. Wonder, not accuracy, realism, naturalism or truth, was the supreme objective of Greek sculptors. Neer traces this way of thinking about art from the poems of Homer to the philosophy of Plato. Then, through meticulous accounts of major sculpture from around the Greek world, he shows how the demand for wonder-inducing statues gave rise to some of the greatest masterpieces of Greek art. Rewriting the history of Greek sculpture in Greek terms and restoring wonder to a sometimes dusty subject, The Emergence of the Classical Style in Greek Sculpture is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the art of sculpture or the history of the ancient world. In the fifth century B.C.E, an artistic revolution occurred in Greece, as sculptors developed new ways of representing bodies, movement, and space. The resulting Classical style would prove influential for centuries and millennia to come. Modern scholars have traditionally described the emergence of this style as a steady march of progress, culminating in masterpieces like the Parthenon sculptures. But this account assumes the impossible: that the early Greeks were working tirelessly toward a style of which they had no prior knowledge. In this ambitious work, Richard Neer draws on recent work in art history, archaeology, literary criticism, and art theory to rewrite the story of Greek sculpture. He provides new ways to understand Classical sculpture in Greek terms, and carefully analyzes the relationship between political and stylistic histories. A much-heralded project, The Emergence of The Classical Style in Greek Sculpture represents an important step in furthering our understanding of the ancient world. Contents 10 List of Illustrations 12 Preface 16 Introduction: An Apology for Style 18 1. Wonders Taken For Signs 37 2. The Speed of Light 87 3. Diaphanous Figures 121 4. Myths of the Inner 167 5. Space and Politics 207 Coda: The Benefits of Hindsight 240 List of Abbreviations 241 Notes 242 Bibliography 264 General Index 280 Index Locorum 286 In the fifth century BCE, an artistic revolution occurred in Greece, as sculptors developed the ways of representing bodies, movement, and space. This title tells the story of Greek sculpture. It provides the ways to understand classical sculpture in Greek terms, and analyzes the relationship between political and stylistic histories. Modern scholars have traditionally described the emergence of the classical style in Greek sculpture as a steady march of progress, but this account assumes the impossible: that the early Greeks were working tirelessly toward a style of which they had no prior knowledge Introduction: An Apology For Style -- Wonders Taken For Signs -- The Speed Of Light -- Diaphanous Figures -- Myths Of The Inner -- Space And Politics -- Coda: The Benefits Of Hindsight. Richard Neer. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.