The Greek Vase: Art of the Storyteller

This richly illustrated volume offers a fascinating introduction to ancient Greek vases for the general reader. It presents vases not merely as beautiful vessels to hold water and wine, but also as instruments of storytelling and bearers of meaning.

The first two chapters analyze the development of different shapes of pottery and relate those shapes to function, the evolution in vase production techniques and decoration, and the roles of potters, painters, and their workshops. Subsequent chapters focus on vases as the primary source of imagery from ancient Greece, offering unique information about mythology, religion, theater, and daily life. The author discusses how to identify the figures and scenes depicted in vase paintings, what these narratives would have meant to the people who lived with them and used them, and how they therefore reflect the cultural values of their time. Also examined is the impact Greek vases had on the art, architecture, and literature of subsequent generations.

Based on the rich collections of the British Museum and the J. Paul Getty Museum, the exquisite details of the works offer the reader the opportunity for an intimate interaction with the graphic beauty and narrative power of ancient vases often not available in a gallery setting.

John H. Oakley is Chancellor Professor and Forrest D. Murden, Jr. Professor in the Department of Classical Studies at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. He is the editor of and a contributor to Athenian Potters and Painters (American School of Classical Studies, 1994) and author of The Achilles Painter (Philipp von Zabern, 1997).

“A succinct primer on the different vessel forms, a varied array of cups, pitchers, storage jars, wine-mixing bowls, sacral implements and others. . . . A competent, eye-catching and entertaining introduction.”
—New York Times

“A primer to help you take a more educated look at these vases . . . Beautifully illustrated.”
—Columbus Dispatch

“This handsome book offers many beautifully photographed examples of Greek painted pottery from the eighth to the fourth centuries BCE. It is an elegant primer on Greek vase painting.”
—Choice

“Lavishly illustrated, The Greek Vase: Art of the Storytelleris a beautiful book.”
—Bryn Mawr Classical Review

114 pages
10 x 10 1/2 inches
130 color illustrations
ISBN 978-1-60606-147-3
hardcover

Getty Publications
Imprint: J. Paul Getty Museum

2013