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The Derveni Krater: Masterpiece of Classical Greek Metalwork (Ancient Art and Architecture in Context)

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Here is the much-needed scholarly volume on a surviving ancient Greek art treasure - the Derveni Krater - an object studied in every credible collegiate and university course on Greek art. This lavish tome is written by Barr-Sharrar, who has already comprehensively studied the Derveni Krater in the peer-reviewed literature, now accessible to all readers. Rare as it is to find one authoritative volume on a single piece of ancient Greek art, it is even more unusual to find so much useful analysis and detail devoted to a special kind of bronze vessel and the full spectrum of Dionysian themes in art. With applicable references from bronzes to sculpture, vase painting and other ancient media, Barr-Sharrar's exquisite book combines the observant eye of the artist with the penetrating mind of the sleuth in examining and contextualizing precursors and the array of corresponding types. Careful in her reconstruction of iconography and provenance as well as her hypotheses of function and meaning for the singular Derveni Krater, Barr-Sharrar has produced a gem for students of Greek art, myth, religion and ancient technology. This book is a great resource for art historians and archaeologists from an author and publisher with the highest critical standards.