What did the Greeks and Romans Ever Do for Art?

Ancient Greek art blossomed and then the Romans took that art – the sculpture, frescoes, vase painting, architecture and so much more – and made it their own. New media, new styles and new expressions burst forth, and this vibrant cocktail created the basis for Western Art for millennia. Just what did those Greek and Roman artists achieve that was so world-changing? It wasn’t just the media they expressed themselves in and the unforgettable works they created which have been echoed over the millennia, it was a mind-set that established how we would look at art for centuries to come.

This talk explores how and why we owe so much to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and we identify the tell-tale marks of our debt to classical art around us today.

Gillian Hovell

As an Exeter University graduate in Latin and Ancient History, Gillian worked widely in BBC Television and went on to become an award winning freelance writer, author, public speaker and presenter. She specialises in engaging audiences with the archaeology, prehistory, and Classical and ancient civilisations throughout Britain and the Mediterranean. A lecturer for York University, she is also Art Society accredited and speaks at the British Museum and internationally. Known professionally as 'The Muddy Archaeologist', Gillian digs deep in archaeology and the ancient world to inspire fresh visions of our past, to add colour, depth and meaning to life today.