The Aphrodite of Knidos and Her Successors: A Historical Review of the Female Nude in Greek Art (Hardcover)

by Christine Mitchell Havelock (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"An accessibly written treatment of the lost archetype of some of the most familiar images in Western culture, including the so-called 'Venus de Milo' and Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus.'" - Times Literary Supplement "All students of the classical and womanhood in general will enjoy this book - if they can take a little titillation." - Choice" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Christine Mitchell Havelock's book takes a much- needed new look at some of the most famous icons of Western art: the nude statues that the Greeks produced to represent Aphrodite. The Aphrodite of Knidos, by master sculptor Praxiteles, is the leading example of this form. Other statues include the Capitoline and Medici Venuses, the Crouching Aphrodite and the Aphrodite of Melos--all of them indebted to Praxiteles.
The author analyzes the meaning of the pose of the Aphrodite of Knidos, the significance of her nudity, and her architectural setting. A survey of the statue's reception and interpretation in Greek, Roman, and modern times offers an entirely new perspective on this major work of art.
Among topics examined are Praxiteles' reported use of his mistress Phryne as his model, the "pudica gesture," and the importance of small-scale versions of statues for dating the larger sculptures. The author also considers the function and religious significance of the small statues, and she includes the cultural context offered by the erotic poetry of Propertius and Ovid, two Roman poets who were fascinated by the robing and disrobing of their mistresses.
The Aphrodite of Knidos is a highly readable, broad-based volume of interest to anyone familiar with classical art and the ancient world.
Christine Mitchell Havelock is Professor Emerita of Art History and Curator of the Classical Art Collection at Vassar College. She has written and lectured widely on Greek art.


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Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047210585X
• ISBN-13: 978-0472105854
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,237,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, easy book about Antiquity's most famous statue, March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This book is well written, and easily read and understood by the average reader. It explores not only the history of Praxiteles most famous creation, but also deals with the female nude in the Ancient Hellenic world. The book helps explain the attitudes of people towards female nudity, and make sense of the appearance of the various female nudes of antiquity. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.