Review of Wander, Flavius Josephus and artwork of Roman antiquity and the early Middle Ages

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Flavius Josephus and artwork of Roman antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

Steven H. Wander, Flavius Josephus and artwork of Roman antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Wiesbaden: Reichert Verlag, 2024. Pp. 238. ISBN 9783752007916.

Review by
Honora Chapman, California State University, Fresno.
hchapman@csufresno.edu

Though there is copious recent scholarship on Josephus’ historiography, art historian Steven Wander focuses in his new volume upon Josephus’ “influence on artworks from Roman Antiquity and the early Middle Ages” (p. 19), ranging from the Arch of Titus to the Paris Psalter.[1] This is, indeed, very welcome, since it is the first book-length study of this important topic and is supported by beautiful illustrations throughout.[2] Wander’s detailed yet lucid observations “connecting word and image” (p. 21), found in the 56 mostly color illustrations (listed on pp. 11–16), make it an absolute pleasure to read.

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