In a special presentation just for NGV Members, we take an in-depth look at the iconography and attribution of three ancient Greek vases from the NGV Collection.
In celebration of the release of the latest NGV publication, which examines a selection of Greek and South Italian vases from the NGV Collection as part of the prestigious international series, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum (CVA), Members are invited to hear from one of the publications contributing authors, Dr Heather Jackson.
Dr Jackson will briefly explain the method of attribution and then discuss three NGV vases from the sixth and fifth centuries BCE, to illustrate her research for the publication – and sharing how a close study of the iconography chosen by the painters reveals to us the preferences and attitudes of their customers.
With the Greeks’ preference for scenes from Homer’s Iliad and other epics about the Trojan War, given their love for a competition, be it fighting, athletic or dramatic, this event is a rare opportunity to delve deeply into the NGV’s important collection of ancient Greek vases.
Educated in UK, Dr Heather Jackson was a Classics teacher in Melbourne schools until returning to University in 1992 to complete an MA on Greek vase-painting. Her involvement with the archaeological excavations at Jebel Khalid in Syria led her to complete her PhD on the housing at that site and in 2000 she became co-director and specialised in the study of the pottery and figurines. She has published widely on the site of Jebel Khalid, as well as on Greek vases, being co-author with Peter Connor of a book on the Melbourne University collection of Greek vases, and having organised several exhibitions of those at the University Potter Gallery. She is currently a Senior Honorary Fellow at Melbourne University.
About the Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum
Established in 1919, the Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum (CVA) is the oldest continuous research project of the Union Académique Internationale in Belgium dedicated to documenting and making available the collections of Greek and Italian pottery from museums and private collections around the world. The NGV publication is the third fascicule devoted to Australian Collections.