This 2003 book treats the historiography of ancient Near Eastern and Classical art, examining the social, intellectual and institutional contexts that have shaped the way that the history of ancient art has been and continues to be written. It demonstrates how, from the Renaissance to the time of publication, the study and interpretation of ancient art reflect contemporary ideas and practices. Among the subjects considered are the classical tradition in the post-antique West; the emergence of academic disciplines; the role of collections in the evaluation of ancient art; and issues of race, gender, and cultural authority in the interpretation of ancient civilisations.

Contents

1. Introduction A. A. Donohue
2. From whore to Hierodules: the historiographic invention of Mesopotamian female sex professionals Julia Assante
3. Humanissima ars: evaluation and devaluation in Pliny, Vasari, and Baden Jacob Isager
4. The fate of plate and other precious materials: towards a historiography of ancient Greek minor arts Kenneth Lapatin
5. 'Der stil der nachahmer': a brief historiography of stylistic retrospection Mark D. Fullerton
6. The Peplos and the Dorian Question Mireille M. Lee
7. Mrs Arthur Strong, Morelli, and the Troopers of Cortés Mary Beard
8. Jargon, authenticity, and the nature of cultural history writing: Not Out of Africa and the Black Athena debate Joanne Monteagle Stearns.