Drawing the Greek Vase

Abstract Since the foundation of the British Museum, one of the main concerns of the Trustees was to publish the growing collection of objects. As part of that process illustrators have been employed to produce high-quality drawings. This chapter introduces the five illustrators employed in the Department of Greece and Rome to produce work relating to the museum’s Greek vase collection from 1893 to the current day. By consulting the departmental archive of both published and unpublished drawings, along with the publications that feature the graphic work, it is possible to describe how drawings were made and how past working methods compare with those of today. The value of drawing as a way of engaging closely with an object is emphasized, along with the benefits of integrating photographic techniques into the drawing process. While illustrators historically were quick to harness the technological advances of their era, the need for carefully executed drawings—packed with morphological and decorative information—has always informed the process. An understanding of the skills of past illustrators is vital for the appreciation of their images and their contribution to the study of Greek vases.