Guide to Ancient Etruscan Art

Reviewed by Rosina Catalan, Adjunct Professor, Butler University on 4/4/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This text is a great introduction to Etruscan Art. The authors explain Villanovan precursors, geographical settings, and archaeological contexts. This guide also places Etruscan art in wider Mediterranean art historical settings. It covers all of the major time periods of Etruscan Art - using one or two examples from each. This guide could be more comprehensive by examining more examples of art. The introduction is superb but it could use a closing.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The guide is accurate. The prose is unbiased in its presentation and form. The authors do a good job of introducing concepts and explaining them for a reader that is not familiar with Etruscan and/or art historical terminology.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This guide contains the most relevant examples of Etruscan Art. If any updates were necessary they would be easy to implement.

Clarity rating: 5

This guide is very clear. The text is written in an accessible prose without sacrificing the academic nature of the guide.

Consistency rating: 5

The terms used to reference the art remain consistent throughout the text. The framework alternates between standard academic prose and transcripts of conversations between the authors. At first this could be distracting, but it creates a diversity of text that is interesting to a variety of readers. At times, a transcript of a conversation will accompany a standard article on the same topic.

Modularity rating: 5

This book relies on several transcripts of conversations between the authors while looking at art in museums. For some this format is helpful, and for others it can be distracting. Instructors should be aware and guide students accordingly.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is well-organized and easy to follow. The chapters are set up by art and culture but one can see a chronological timeline. The chapters are easy to access.

Interface rating: 4

The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate within a pdf format. There are a few spacing errors in the text - with rows aligned differently from the rest of the lines in a paragraph.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

This guide is free from grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The authors do a good job of acknowledging the geographical and cultural contexts of Etruscan Art. Several examples of art are housed in collections outside of Italy, where the greatest collections of Etruscan art are housed. The text could use more examples of art from museums in Italy, more from the Villa Giulia in Rome or the Archaeological Museum in Arezzo. The examples from the National Archaeological Museum in Florence are some of the best in the guide.

Comments

This guide is a great introduction to Etruscan Art. It is well-used in the context of a survey course.

Reviewed by Joyce Miller, Professor of Art, Dept. Chair, Mount Wachusett Community College on 5/28/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Excellent choice of images and clear information addressing each topic or period within each chapter in this well written text. The inclusion of a short chapter, "Bucchero, a black, burnished ceramic ware," by Jeffrey A. Becker, was of particular interest. The history of a civilization and culture is often revealed in the objects they value, their use, how they are created and for whom, or why they were created along with the processes discovered or cherished during a certain time period. Ceramic ware is not always emphasized in art history books. The images of work from the Metropolitan Museum, used as examples, made me want to learn more about the ancient Etruscan culture and history. The beautiful explanation of the process involved in making Bucchero ware, could also be referenced and incorporated in a studio art ceramic course. This text incorporates content in an accessible, easy to read text, while connecting new vocabulary, historical influences and processes in a context for understanding Etruscan art.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I believe on on p 8 of text the author states "thickness of fabric" and believe it should be "thickness of clay" but possibly the use of the word "fabric" was meant to mean something broader but it seemed odd to me.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

History is relevant and the sources used for writing content are exceptional.

Clarity rating: 5

Easy to read and well written.

Consistency rating: 5

The framework as outlined in Table of Content and within each chapter is consistent, understandable and easy to peruse.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters and topics are approached in strong understandable order and one that makes sense to a new reader or someone that already has some understanding of the Etruscan art.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Clearly organized and easy to find topics in the text/chapters.

Interface rating: 5

Worked beautifully for me.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

None that I saw.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Seems respectful and scholarly.

Comments

Diagrams and images chosen were excellent.