Customer Reviews

The Language of the Muses: The Dialogue between Roman and Greek Sculpture

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Marvin gives us a whole new perspective on Roman Sculpture. At last the Romans can be seen in light of their accomplishments rather as shadows of the Greeks. This brilliant book gives us all the evidence we need to convince us that the study of classical sculpture is entering a new realm. Now we need to re-label everything in the museums-- no more "Roman copy of unknown Greek original."

Professor Marvin makes a very welcomed case for Roman sculptors being more than copyists of Greek models, but she does not deny that the Romans saw themselves as heirs of Greek ideals, and not only in sculpture, but also in literature and mythology. "The Dialogue Between Roman and Greek Sculpture" of the subtitle turns out to have been more of a one-way conversation. Marvin's call to now find who the Roman sculptors were and what they made may prove as illusive as finding who sculpted the Riace bronzes. It is the feeling of this reviewer that Roman sculpture will never quite be brought out of the shadow of Greek achievement, but who can ever say what may still lie waiting discovery!