GREEK ART. It is proposed in the present article to give a brief account of the history of Greek art and of the principles embodied in that history. The products of the various arts prac tised by a people constitute an objective and most important record of the spirit of that people. But all nations have not ex celled in the same way : some have found their best expression in architecture, some in music, some in poetry. The Greeks most fully embodied their ideas in two ways, first in their splendid literature, both prose and verse, and secondly, in their plastic and pictorial art, in which matter they have remained to our days among the greatest instructors of mankind. The three arts of architecture, sculpture and painting were brought by them into a focus ; and by their aid they produced a visible splendour of public life such as has seldom been elsewhere attained.
The volume of the remains of Greek civilization is so vast, and the learning with which these have been discussed is so ample, that it is hopeless to attempt to find in a work like the present any complete account of either. Rather we shall be frankly eclectic, choosing for consideration such results of Greek art as are most noteworthy and most characteristic. In some cases it will be possible to give a reference to a more detailed treatment of partic ular monuments in these volumes under the heading of their authors or the places to which they belong. Architectural detail is relegated to ARCHITECTURE and allied articles. Coins and gems (q.v.) are treated apart, as are vases (POTTERY AND PORCE LAIN) ; in the article ARCHAEOLOGY will be found many references bearing on the rediscovery of Greek art and on the discovery of individual monuments and sites ; and in the bibliography which closes this article an effort is made to direct those who wish for further information in any particular branch of our subject.
