Miami University

Ancient Cypriot Votive Sculpture topic of AIA lecture

01/30/2012

Ann Marie Knoblauch, associate professor of art history at Virginia Tech, will present "Ancient Cypriot Votive Sculpture and the Folk Art Tradition" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Miami University Art Museum. Her talk is part of the Archaeological Institute of America's lecture program, now in its 116th year.

Knoblauch’s research interests include sculpture and iconography and the relationship between the Greek world and Cyprus during the archaic and classical periods, and gender issues. Since 1998 she has been affiliated with the excavations at the site of Idalion on Cyprus.

She will speak about the classical limestone sculpture that was produced in various sizes to be dedicated at religious sanctuaries on the island of Cyprus. The smaller votive statues are inferior in quality, which raises the question of whether artistic styles and techniques were driven by local community needs rather than broader stylistic movements across the Mediterranean. Knolblauch will be discuss this issue, with reference to the availability of workable raw material and demand for the product that created a “cottage industry” for sculptors.