Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World

Edited by the curators of an eponymous exhibit at the Getty Museum, Power and Pathos is both an informative study of the techniques and artistry of early Greek and Roman sculptors and a lush, prolifically illustrated panorama of the Getty show. A dozen easily accessible essays by scholars and curators explore the ways in which history unfolds through the integrated expertise of archeologists, scientists and, in this case, metallurgical engineers. We learn, for example, that unlike one-off marble sculptures, the reproducibility of clay models for bronze casting allowed commercial artisans to create many more statues and to tweak wax working models to alter the figure's age and appearance.

Fascinating stuff, but the exquisitely detailed full-page photos are really the heart of Power and Pathos. The natural patina of aged bronze; the contrasting color of copper, ivory and bone eyes; and the detailed delineation of hair, muscle and even crow's feet embody this artistic golden age. --Bruce Jacobs, founding partner, Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, Kan.

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