This volume stems from an international conference held at Oxford University in 2007, featuring texts that explore plaster casts and related themes from antiquity to the present across various regions, including Egypt, America, Mexico, and New Zealand. It appeals to classical archaeologists, art historians, curators, conservators, collectors, and artists. The articles delve into the functions, status, and reception of plaster casts within artists’ workshops and collections, addressing practical aspects like making, trading, displaying, and conserving these casts. Case studies highlight the techniques and materials used by ancient Roman copyists, Renaissance sculptors and painters, and notable figures like Canova and Boccioni. Another focus is the role of plaster casts in the history of collecting from the Renaissance onward, examining how visual ideas and models were disseminated through this medium. Additionally, papers on modern and contemporary art reveal the evolving uses and meanings of plaster casts. The volume covers various types of casts, including artists' models, final works, and casts of antiquities such as sculptures, architecture, and gems. It showcases the richness of the field and modern scholarship, serving as a comprehensive handbook for students, academics, curators, and collectors, establishing itself as a standard reference on the significance of plaster casts in Western sculpture history.
