Abstract
‘Etruscan tomb painting and Etruscan art’ considers the particular Etruscan artistic style and asks whether it should be considered as a local phenomenon. What can be said about the production of Etruscan art? What role did art have for the Etruscans? Was it merely decorative or was there a wider purpose? The main fascination of Etruscan art lies in the fact that it is clearly indebted to Greek originals. However, it is also capable of great independence. Some have criticized it for being a second-rate imitation, unable to reach the heights of the Greeks. This interpretation assumes that the Etruscans were seeking to emulate the Greek style. Evidence suggests that they had different aims.
