Art is like chocolate to the brain. …Dr. Gene Cohen, George Wash. Univ. ————————————————— This is an illustrated summary of 100 of the ‘greatest sculptures’ in the Western World. Primary criteria for selection is frequency of favorable review within 153 art references… by art scholars, historians, and museum curators. [where these authorities do not agree, divergent opinions are included. On occasion, Holt may express views that disagree with one of the authorities… but no more than they disagree among each other] Second criterion for selection: most of these sculptures are readily accessible. 93 are in or near 15 major cities of the Western World: Washington… New York… Los Angeles… London… Paris []Versailles]… Berlin… Copenhagen… Oslo… Venice… Florence… Rome… Naples… Athens [] Delphi & Mycenae]. 7 Exceptions: are: Knossos, Crete [2]… Oklahoma City [2]… Mt. Rushmore, So. Dakota… Rio de Janeiro… and Cairo. Third criterion: the ‘response of the viewing public’. Thomas Hoving [former director, NY Met. Museum of Art] defines ‘response’ as: The ‘blink test, ’ or your 100th-of-a-second initial impression… If a work of art is any good, it will talk to you. Art will talk quicker if you happen to be able to recognize all sorts of [background] influences - but essentially a great work will reach your own heart and do it on its own. [LA Times, 6-13-05] The author required 16 years to research the ‘greatest sculptures’ in the Western world… and then narrowed them to 100. He has visited each sculpture… most of them on multiple occasions… and invites you to do the same. The Preface suggests you create your own personalized tour of the finest sculptures in the major museums of Europe and the United States. In Europe: frequent travelers can visit 73 ‘greatest’ sculptures: London 10… Paris 16… Berlin 3… Florence 4… Rome 34… Naples 6. This is possible within 2 weeks: via the Chunnel train… 3 overnight-sleeper trains… and rooms booked near city centers. Greece offers 10 sculptures: Athens 5… Delphi 2… Mycenae 1… Knossos 2, Crete. These works require 10 days. Delphi & Mycenae are day-tours. Crete is half-day cruise or brief flight. The United States offers 16 sculptures: Washington 7… New York 3… Okla. City 2… So. Calif. 4. Two of California’s statues (Aphrodite of Cyrene and the Three Graces) are at Hearst Castle. Intriguing history is often revealed by the study of art. For instance, if your native language is English, that may be due to the brilliance, courage, and stamina of Julius Caesar #54. If not for his repeated victories over the Germanic tribes who kept crossing the Rhine into Gaul [now mostly France]… the English-speaking peoples of today might be speaking German instead. See Holt’s Amazon Author Page for: the Winged Victory of Samothrace # 38 [sample chapter] the Venus de Milo #48 [sample chapter]
