Ancient Collection October 17, 2008

Joslyn's collection of Greek pottery is valued not only for its beauty, but also for the window it offers into life in ancient Greece. The painted decorations on the pottery address many themes of Greek culture, from military combat to themes of love and beauty. The production of Greek pottery spanned many centuries, and the pieces in Joslyn Art Museum's collection represent over 1,000 years of continuous creation. Distinct periods of development can be observed, characterized by style and technique. While the names of the vessel painters are rarely known, scholars are able to assign particular works to individual artists based on similarities of detail and decorative style. These individuals are then given "names" based on the location of one of their important works. The Joslyn collection features pottery attributed to both the "Omaha painter" and the "Joslyn painter."