The Red and the Black: Studies in Greek Pottery [Hardcover]

Brian A. Sparkes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415126606 | ISBN-13: 978-0415126601 | Publication Date: May 6, 1996

The Red and the Black covers the major stages in the history of Greek pottery production, both figured and plain, as they are understood today. It provides an up-to-date evaluation of ways of studying Greek pottery and encourages new approaches.
There is a detailed analysis of the subject matter of figured scenes covering some of the main preoccupations of ancient Greece: myth, fantasy and everyday life. Furthermore, it sets the artefacts in the context of the societies that produced them, highlighting the social, art historical, mythological and economic information that can be revealed from their study.
This volume also covers a hitherto neglected area: the history of the collecting of Greek pottery through the Renaissance and up to the present day. It shows how market values have gradually increased to the high prices of today and goes on to take a closer look at the enthusiasm of the collectors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It is refreshing for a teacher who is familiar with - and perhaps even a touch complacent about a standard topic such as Greek pottery, to read a book which shakes her out of a rut by evaluating the very approaches to the area of study. An excellent read at many levels.' - JACT Review

'Sparkes' book is as broad in mind as range, engaging, well-illustrated, and with an extensive bibliography.' - The Classical Review

'Professor Sparkes takes a refreshing, innovative, and often entertaining view of the subject.' - Minerva

About the Author

Brian A Sparkes received his training in classics and archaeology at King's College London and at the British School of Archaeology in Athens. He is currently Professor of Classical Archaeology at Southampton University. His most recent publications are Greek Art and Greek Pottery: An Introduction

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (May 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415126606
• ISBN-13: 978-0415126601
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,008,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Red and the Black: Studies in Greek Pottery, November 3, 2006

By 

Geoffrey P. Graham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Red and the Black: Studies in Greek Pottery (Paperback)

This is a charming book. It is written in a fun, almost conversational style. It treats the history of how Greek pottery has been studied and viewed by Western scholarship. It contains anecdotes and stories that make the reader feel more connected with the art than do the usual dry, art-historical, descriptive books. Thank goodness it does not read like somebody's dissertation for a change. The author has a sense of humor and delightful candor about the subject, and the reader will still learn a good quantity of useful art historical information without the usual suffering of tedium so often encountered in books on this subject.