A History of Sculpture

This volume offers a sweeping yet approachable survey of sculpture, tying each great style to the cultural currents that shaped it. The author deliberately looks beyond lone geniuses, arguing that the most enduring forms emerge from the collective tastes of whole societies. Richly reproduced plates accompany the narrative, letting listeners picture iconic works—from the poised athletes of early Greece to Michelangelo’s solemn Virgin—without getting bogged down in academic footnotes.

The first sections trace the birth of Greek stone and bronze, following the evolution from the modest figures of the Archaic period to the lifelike realism of Lysippus and his contemporaries. Subsequent chapters move through the expressive drama of Hellenistic art and the grand narrative reliefs of Roman marble, always linking form to the historical events and social shifts that inspired it. By prioritising national context over personal biography, the book equips listeners with a clear framework for appreciating how sculpture both reflects and shapes the ages in which it was created.