BMCR 2006.04.05, Steven Fine, Art & Judaism in the

Steven Fine, Art & Judaism in the Greco-Roman World. Toward a New
Jewish Archaeology.  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press, 2005.  Pp.
267.  ISBN 0-521-84491-6.  $75.00.

Reviewed by Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(magness <at> email.unc.edu)
Word count:  2188 words
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To read a print-formatted version of this review, see
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2006/2006-04-05.html
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Table of Contents
(http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0422/2004019667.html)

The notion that ancient Jewish art does not exist is widespread and
deeply rooted. Many scholars assume that Jews either did not produce
works of art or at best, produced only "bad art." As recently as 1998,
one prominent art historian described Judaism as "the most un-iconic
(indeed anti-iconic) of religions" (J. Elsner, quoted by Fine, 47).
Part of the reason why modern art historians have overlooked ancient
Jewish art is that whereas the Greco-Roman world was filled with works
of art by Classical masters the Jews produced no painted (figured)
vases and almost no sculpture in the round.

In this dense, erudite study, Fine attempts to set the record straight,
reviving the term "Jewish archaeology" as a parallel to "Christian
archaeology." The monograph is divided into four unequal parts, each
subdivided into chapters. In Part One Fine provides a fascinating and
insightful account of the history of Jewish art in the late nineteenth