Nature of Art

Pliny the Elder on materials

Edited by Anna Anguissola Edited by Andreas Gruner

Book cover: Nature of Art

Extent: 372 pages

Publisher: Brepols Publishers

Subjects: Art & Art History, Classical Studies

Series: Materiality

Series volume number: 1

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(July 2021)

ISBN: 9782503591179

Price: $157.00

Out of stock

This volume addresses the presentation of artistic processes and their materials in the Natural History and focuses on the issues that lie at the root of Pliny’s work: his account of the technological, economical, ideological, and aesthetic aspects of materials.


In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder organises his discussion of crafts according to the raw materials they utilize. However, scholarly literature has paid little attention to the aspect of materiality, preferring to focus on the biographies and achievements of ancient Greek artists. This collection instead addresses the presentation of artistic processes and their materials in the Natural History. This approach corresponds with current developments in the study of Greco-Roman art, wherein scientific analysis of artistic materials including stones, pigments, and metal alloys, as well as a deeper understanding of workshop practices, has imposed profound changes on the methods used in the study of ancient artefacts.

  • Edited by Anna Anguissola
  • Edited by Andreas Gruner