A new, expanded edition of the seminal art-historical reference work 'Taste and the Antique' has been released, growing from one volume to three. Originally published in 1981 by Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny, the book traced the reception history of ancient Greek and Roman statues from 1500 to 1900. This updated version features full-color photography of all 95 canonical works, including multiple angles and detail shots, overcoming the original edition's criticized monochrome images. A third volume illustrates copies, prints, casts, and reproductions of the statues across media and centuries, from Renaissance drawings to modern advertisements and photographs.
This new edition matters because 'Taste and the Antique' remains an indispensable resource for art historians, bridging traditional Classical studies with the social history of taste. The expanded format not only corrects the original's photographic shortcomings but also reflects the growth of scholarship in sculptural reception, display, and reproduction since 1981. By including visual culture beyond fine art—such as commercial reproductions and colonial imagery—the third volume opens the canon to broader, more critical conversations about Classicism, colonialism, and the enduring influence of antique sculpture.