This book provides an interpretive history of the Greek portrait from its emergence in the 5th century B.C. to the late Hellenistic period. Beyond its educational objective, it appeals to the public interested in understanding that type of artistic creation, whether in bronze or marble, in which personalized expression is captured through a variety of artistic conventions.
When does the transition occur from the supra-individual expression of a specific person to the complete individualization of the human representation? Do the individual characteristics in a portrait presuppose facial similarity? What message does the portrait express and convey to the viewer? These are some of the questions that concern this study, which, by combining archaeological data and epigraphic evidence, does not only target the content of the portrait but also explores iconological issues to understand the function of this artistic genre within the context of social values, aesthetic preferences, and the mindsets of the society that produced it.
In the history of the Greek portrait, certainties are few and discussions within the scientific community are many. The agonizing questions of identification, style, and dating remain open for several portraits. This study contributes to the further examination of these issues, filling a gap in the Greek literature.
Nikolaos Katsikoudis is a doctor of the Department of History - Archaeology of the University of Ioannina. He has published studies and articles on Greek art and monography. He teaches the history of Greek and Roman art in the Department of Plastic Arts and Art Sciences at the University of Ioannina.
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