Black figure vases

1. Black figure vases

2. Intricate IncisionAttempted Movement

3. The stars. • Gorgon Painter. • Sophilos. • Kleitias. • Amasis Painter. • Exekias.

4. The craft. • Painter and potter not the same = separate signatures on Francois vase. • Painter and potter the same = Exekias. • Frequently exported: The Gorgon Painter, Sophilos, Amasis and Exekias all found in Italy. • Attic workshops popular, but all influenced by Corinth.

5. The Gorgon Painter • Mixing bowl (dinos). • On shoulder: Perseus pursued by Gorgons. • 93cm H (bowl 44cm, stand 59cm). • Early 6th century. • Corinthian style.

6. Decoration in 5 friezes. • Bottom 3 friezes show animals, 4th floral and top myth. • ‘Grandeur has been replaced by neatness’. • ‘An impression of more even, overall decoration has been obtained’. • Repetition of designs. • Movement. • Perseus in profile but Gorgons profile/full frontal

7. Sophilos’ dinos • c570 BC • From Chiusi (Tuscany) • Shoulder: Wedding of Peleus & Thetis (parents of Achilles). Procession with gods as guests. • Animal friezes. • Signed by Sophilos. • Figures and scenes labelled.

8. Friezes require lots of figures to fill them= processions, hunts, etc

10. Woodford? • Lots of detail. • Geometric. • Animal figures drawn ‘conventionally and rather carelessly’. • Sophilos most interested in the myth frieze. • Figures varied: some overlap, some are shown in isolation. • Use of colours: purple, red. White for women

11. Kleitias- the Francois vase. • Volute Krater. • Unusual shape. • 1st clay vessel known from Athens. • 66cm H • 7 figure friezes. • Pygmies fight cranes on the vase foot. • Painter Kleitias. • Potter Ergotimos.

12. SIDE A Calydonian boar hunt Patroclus’ funeral games. Wedding procession. Achilles chases Polyxena Animals

14. Note: • Lots of movement. • Detail. • Deep and fine incisions. • Simple anatomy. • Stylised bodies. • Directional movement in some friezes, others symetrical.

15. Detail: Ajax and Achilles. • Fills narrow space on handle. • ‘Running’ pose or raising himself up? • Lifeless face of Achilles. • Names given: fill the corners. • Lots of horizontals and verticals.

17. The Amasis Painter. • Athenian workshop. • May have been Egyptian? • Active 575-525 BC. • 90 works attributed to him. • 8 signed by Amasis. • Worked only in Black figure. • Traditional- still has long figures with small heads.

19. Dionysus and the Maenads. • Dionysus with Kantharos. Maenads with ivy &a hare. • Shoulder almost horizontal. • Maenads unpainted. • Figures in profile. • No emotion. • Names above. • Lots of repetition/ patterns.

20. The Wedding Procession • c540BC • Lekythoi. • Females painted white. • Foldless drapery. • ‘Everyday’ scene. • Shoulder frieze.

21. Women weaving. c540BC

22. Lekythoi. • ‘Everyday’ scene. • Women’s work: spinning and weaving considered worthy. • Mostly profile. • Females in black. • Shoulder frieze has lots of movement. • Attention to detail of loom, etc.

23. Exekias • Active 550-525BC • Athens workshop. • Preferred large vases. • Preferred single scenes. • Potter and painter. • Use of narrow decorated bands to frame the scenes.

24. Exekias’ Achilles & Ajax • c540-530BC • Found at Vulci (Tuscany) • Amphora. • 61cm H. • Achilles winning (4 written beside him, 3 beside Ajax). • Modest curvature on picture panel.

26. So? • Playing peaceful game, but dressed for war. • Great amount of detail. • Harmonious arrangement in scale. • Spears form V shape / triangular division. • Little movement / expression (concentrating?). • Some geometric influence, but not much.

27. Dionysus sailing. • Kylix • c540-530 BC • Not a common myth: Dionysus captured by pirates. • Space well filled. • Dionysus reclines like a dinner guest. • No horizon.