Ancient Cities Brought to Life

This unique book brings the work of Jean-Claude Golvin to the English-reading public for the first time.

Jean-Claude Golvin is a director of CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). For 10 years he led the French-Egyptian Centre for Research, the institute that restored Karnak. He is also engaged in scientific studies of the Roman sites of Tunisia, including the discoveries at Carthage. For over 20 years, Golvin's drawings have illustrated numerous academic publications, general reading and magazine articles. 

Golvin's mission is to breathe life into ancient sites through the liveliness of line and the evocative power of watercolour painting. There is, however, little of the whimsy in his reconstructions of the past: these powerful images are the result of a mind trained in architecture, and stem from a working life devoted to archaeology and working with the leading exponents in their field.

To critics who promote the power of computer-aided design, Golvin argues that the technology results in a lifeless starkness; what matters most to him is the colouring, the nuances of tonality and the beauty of the picture. A Golvin watercolour invites you to dream.

Collected in this book are images of the most important places from before 2500 BC to AD 500. Ancient Cities Brought to Life is intended to be a testament to the varied manner in which mankind can build cities, temples, public spaces and living areas. It is nothing less than an invitation to rediscover antiquity.