Moche Fineline Painting From San Jose De Moro

by Donna McClelland, Donald McClelland and Christopher B. Donnan

Book cover: Moche Fineline Painting From San Jose De Moro

Extent: 208 pages

Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press

Subjects: Archaeology of the Americas

Series: Monographs

Series volume number: 58

Language: English

(Paperback) (Published)

(June 2007)

ISBN: 9781931745383

10.94 x 8.46 inches

Price: $14.95

In stock

(Hardback) (Published)

(June 2007)

ISBN: 9781931745390

10.94 x 8.46 inches

Price: $19.95

In stock

PDF (Published)

(December 2007)

ISBN: 9781950446025

Price: $36.00

Moche civilization flourished on the north coast of Peru from AD 200 to 800. Although the Moche had no writing system, they left a vivid artistic record of their beliefs and activities on intricately painted ceramic vessels, several thousand of which are scattered in museums and private collections throughout the world today. Unfortunately, nearly all were looted by grave robbers so their origin and context are unknown. In recent years, however, through a combination of archaeological excavation and stylistic analysis, it has been possible to identify more than 250 painted vessels from the site of San Jose de Moro. To date, this is the largest sample of Moche art from a single place and time. Thus it provides a unique opportunity to identify a distinct sub-style of Moche ceramics, and to assess its range of artistic and technological variation. Moreover, within the sample it is possible to identify multiple paintings by 18 different artists, thus elucidating the range of subject matter that an artist would paint, as well as the variation in the way he would portray the same scene. By discussing and illustrating more than 200 painted vessels from San Jose de Moro, this volume provides insights about a community of ancient Peruvian potters who shared a distinctive painting style and left a fascinating record of their achievement.

  • By (author) Christopher B. Donnan
  • By (author) Donald McClelland
  • By (author) Donna McClelland