Roman art /

D'Ambra takes her place among the members of the new generation of Roman art historians who emphasize social distinctions and regional variations in the production and consumption of artworks in an all-inclusive Empire. The older preoccupation with artworks commissioned by and intended to serve the interests of the Roman elite has been displaced by a more ecumenical conception of the diversity of patronage and audience in the Roman world, evident in artworks made for private use and often representative of the ordinary experiences of life. In this well-written book, the role of women and the display of their images, marginal topics in the traditional histories, are prominent, responsive equally to the rectification of prior neglect and to current feminist concerns. The dimension of personal experience--displayed in portraits and funeral monuments, or lived out in domestic and urban spaces--figures largely in this book, so devoted to the exploration of the multifaceted social order. Still, D'Ambra does not ignore the overarching presence of the Empire as an institution promulgating its own principles in magnificent works of public art and architecture. Numerous nonstandard illustrations inform the book, often marred by discrepancies of scale, and there is an almost total lack of contemporary texts. General readers; undergraduates. R. Brilliant; Columbia University

While most books on ancient mosaics concern themselves mainly with the "how-to" of a specific monument, Ling offers a broad and accessible overview. The evolution of ancient mosaics began in the Greek late Classical period with floors decorated with pebble mosaics and culminated in the lush wall and vault mosaics of Christian Rome. Ling follows the progress of mosaics across the span of the Greco-Roman world, from Britain to Egypt and Spain to Syria, carefully examining stylistic development, techniques, materials, and influences. In addition, he places the mosaics carefully in the context of the world for which and in which they were created. Because of the durable material used, many mosaics are still available for viewing, and Ling has selected a generous sampling for detailed illustration. A solid work by a respected author, this is recommended for both academic and public libraries. D'Ambra goes beyond basic stylistic analyses to use Roman art in the study of Roman identity. In each monument, sculpture, garden, or painting, he finds clues about the patron or subject of the work. Well-known monuments and those less well known provide clues to their subjects' position in Rome and to their personal lives within their families. Symbolizing both culture and power, art was important in all levels of Roman society, and D'Ambra looks at art patronage from the emperor to the middle class in all areas of the empire, in Italy and abroad. Recommended for both academic and larger public library art collections.‘Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.