Luxus: The Sumptuous Arts of Greece and Rome

Kenneth Lapatin

In contrast to other histories of ancient art that typically privilege well-preserved works of ceramics or stone, Luxus offers an integrated contextual analysis of artifacts fashioned from a wide variety of luxury materials, which survive in far greater number than is typically supposed. These include gold and silver, semiprecious hard stones, and organic materials, such as ivory, fine woods, amber, pearl, coral, and textiles. Examining some of the finest surviving examples of ancient craftsmanship, renowned expert Kenneth Lapatin approaches objects in these diverse media from a variety of viewpoints, providing a valuable model for a more pluralistic approach to visual culture with the greater goal of reinvigorating the study of ancient art and society.

As its title implies, Luxus is richly illustrated, containing over 200 images of superb works located in collections throughout the world. Each plate is accompanied by extensive documentation and discursive commentary. An introductory chapter explores the ideologies and uses of the luxury arts in ancient Greece and Rome, considers ancient debates about their value, and traces their decline in modern historiography. The book then goes on to address a broad range of luxury goods, such as intaglios, cameos, vessels, and statuettes, providing a full and multifaceted account of luxury in the ancient world.

Kenneth Lapatin is associate curator in the Department of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum. He is the editor of The Berthouville Silver Treasure and Roman Luxury (Getty Publications, 2014) and coeditor of The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection (Getty Publications, 2012).

“All of these artifacts are truly worthy of admiration, and Lapatin is to be congratulated for a volume rich in visual evidence as well as insight. Since the book offers such a nuanced perspective on Greco-Roman luxury crafts, their production, and their profound connection to daily life, it is highly recommended for all those who value the study of material culture.”
—Classical Journal Online

“[This book offers] ancient visual and literary testimony that asserts the ubiquity of luxury craft production throughout antiquity. . . . Since the book offers such a nuanced perspective on Greco-Roman luxury crafts, their production, and their profound connection to daily life, it is highly recommended for all those who value the study of material culture.”
—Classical Association of the Middle West and South

296 pages
9 x 11 inches
243 color illustrations
ISBN 978-1-60606-422-1
hardcover

Getty Publications
Imprint: J. Paul Getty Museum

2015