Displaying the Ideals of Antiquity

Displaying the Ideals of Antiquity investigates the study and display of ancient sculpture from archaeological, art history, and museum studies perspectives. Ancient sculptures not only give us knowledge about ancient Greek and Roman pasts, but they also mediate ideals that inform us about modern perceptions of antiquity. This book analyzes how an art historical tradition establishes and preserves an idealized view of antiquity in classical archaeology and in museum exhibitions. The authors also investigate how these ideals are kept alive today – an approach that often is neglected in studies on ancient reception.

This book stands out among current publications in its international scope and in illustrating how academic conceptual foundations influence museum exhibitions. This perspective is not only relevant to classical archaeology and art history, but also to museum studies and the history of ideas. This timely volume discusses contemporary museum exhibitions of ancient sculpture and clarifies how also old discourses continue to affect museum exhibitions and conceptualizations of ancient sculptures. The authors have analyzed close to 100 museums around the world, and elaborate on how ancient sculptures are mediated across Europe and the western world. The exhibition of ancient sculptures is similar in most states, which emphasizes the international character of the classical legacy.