Ancient Art from An Encyclopaedia of Colour Decoration
Today we present selections from An Encyclopaedia of Colour Decoration, published in New York by E. Weyhe in 1928. It includes an explanatory text by the art historian, Helmuth Theodor Bossert. The decorative plates we are featuring today are depictions of ancient art, primarily wall paintings. The plates are from very different periods, ranging from the 17th to 2nd century BCE. They are also from different regions, including Greece, Italy, and Assyria. The date and location information can be found in the small print on each image.
Bossert notes that the collection of plates does not put a particular stress on examining the historical background of particular periods, but instead focuses on individual pieces for their aesthetic qualities, writing:
“It seems to the author that it is more in accordance with the spirit of our time to study works of art independently of periods. Particularly decorative painting, which is decidedly a popular art, affords at all times such satisfactory evidence of craftsmanship, imagination and adaptability to local and artistic requirements that we feel justified in drawing attention to the works of those many nameless artists, showing how traditions of the craft have been handed down from generation to generation.”
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–Sarah, Special Collections Graduate Intern
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