Vase painting in Ancient Greece. Vase Painting Styles of Ancient Greece

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In this article, dear readers, we will consider the vase painting styles of Ancient Greece. This is an original, bright and amazing layer of ancient culture. Anyone who has seen an amphora, lekythos or skyphos with their own eyes will forever keep their unsurpassed beauty in their memory.

Next, we will talk with you about a variety of painting techniques and styles, as well as mention the most influential centers for the development of this art.

Vase painting of Ancient Greece

Stunning examples of Ancient Greek vase paintings are a delight to the eye of tourists and are a coveted item in the collection of many art connoisseurs. These multi-colored vessels delight with a variety of shapes, plots and colors.

In the article we will consider the styles of vase painting, starting from the periodization of the culture of Hellas. Greek vases (pictured below) went from a simple fire-fired pot to a masterpiece of ancient painting in the form of a bilingual red-figure amphora.

Due to its exceptional beauty andsophistication, these items quickly became popular imports throughout Europe and Asia. They are found both in Celtic burials and in the tombs of the Middle East and North Africa.

The following fact is interesting. The very first examples were found in Etruscan crypts, and initially no one associated them with the Greeks. Only at the end of the nineteenth century, Johann Winckelmann proved their Hellenic origin. After such a discovery, ancient Greek vase painting became one of the most important topics in the study of antiquity.

Today, the vessels allow not only to restore many areas of the life of this people, but also to date various events, as well as to get acquainted with the names of the masters.

We will talk about this in more detail later, but in one of the periods vase painters even had a competition. Judging by the graffiti, they boasted to each other that their vessel was better.

Centers and technologists of vase painting

Thanks to the finds of archaeologists today, many museums around the world can boast examples of ancient Greek vase paintings. There are ancient vessels from the island of Crete and Corinthian ceramics, black and red-figure amphoras, lekythos and other types of dishes.

In the mainland, the main centers of production were the Attic metropolises of Athens and Corinth. In addition to them, there are also masters from Laconia and Boeotia. It was in these policies that various methods of decorating vessels were invented.

Later the production center moves to Southern Italy. Just as in the early Hellenic period, he moved from Crete to the mainland. Two cities stand out here - the SicilianCenturipa and South Italian Canosa.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the technology with which Greek vases were made. The drawings show the use of the potter's wheel as early as the second millennium BC.

Clay was selected by color. In some areas, it was of a different color - from yellow to brown. If the material was very oily, fireclay and sand were added to it. In addition, the clay was specially "aged". The process included a long exposure of raw materials in a humid room after washing. As a result, she became very elastic and pliable.

Then the material was kneaded with feet and placed on the potter's wheel. The finished vessel was dried in the shade for several days, after which it was painted. Only after all these procedures was the item fired.

Aegean period

The earliest examples of this art form are Minoan, Minyan and Mycenaean pottery vessels. The first, in particular, is also called the Kamares vase (after the name of the grotto on the island of Crete, where the samples were first discovered).

As we said earlier, such painting of ceramics appears around the middle of the third millennium BC. The first period, which corresponds to the early Helladic or Aegean era, is divided by scientists into several sub-periods.

The first lasted until about the twenty-first century BC. At that time, simple geometric ornaments on the one-colored walls of vessels prevailed. Then he is replaced by the Kamares style. It stands out among contemporary ceramics. The main distinguishing feature iswhite spiral and floral elements that were applied to the matte background of the vessel.

In the seventeenth century BC, the character of the drawing changes significantly. Now marine elements are becoming predominant: octopuses, fish, corals, nautiluses, dolphins and others. Since the middle of the fifteenth century, there has been a period of decline in Cretan painting.

But the so-called "archaic vase painting" was developing on the mainland at that time. First of all, Minyan ceramics should be attributed here. It was thin-walled, without drawings. This type of pottery existed from the twenty-second to the middle of the sixteenth century BC. It is replaced by Mycenaean pottery.

The seventeenth century BC proved to be a turning point both in mainland Greece and in the Cyclades. At this time, the Mycenaean culture spread here with its motifs in vase painting. Researchers divide it into four periods, bringing it to the era of the Dorian invasion of the country (in the eleventh century BC).

Judging by the drawing, the early Mycenaean painting is dominated by simple matte dark drawings on a light background. Around the fifteenth century BC, they are replaced by plants and representatives of the animal world. And in the thirteenth century before the birth of Christ, human figures and ships appear. The latter is often associated with the Trojan War, which was around this period.

Geometrics

In the middle of the twelfth century, the fine arts of Ancient Greece fell into decline along with the rest of the culture. Period up to the tenthcentury is considered a "dark time" in the development of this people.

If we talk about ceramics, then in this era there are three styles of painting. With the advent of the Dorians, most of the achievements of Mycenaean culture disappear. Until the middle of the eleventh century, there was a stage of the "Submycenaean" tradition, when the forms of the vessels were preserved, but the drawings on them disappeared.

After comes the period of proto-geometric ornament. Basically, ceramics were characterized by two horizontal circular stripes near the neck and in the middle of the vessel. Between them were usually located concentric circles, which were created using a compass.

The composition becomes much more complicated in the tenth century BC. Now single and double meanders appear. Often, geometric objects played the role of a frieze on the vessel wall. Below them were stylized images of people, plants and animals.

Gradually, ancient Greek culture progressed. During the life of Homer, there is a tendency to reduce the area of geometric friezes, which are replaced by military processions with chariots or a series of various outlandish animals.

The predominant color of the drawings was black or red on a white background. During this period, all anthropomorphic figures were depicted schematically. The body of the men was in the form of an inverted triangle, the head was an oval with a hint of a nose, and the legs were depicted as two cylinders (thigh and lower leg).

Trends of the East

Gradually, ancient Greek culture is improving. The images are getting complicated, going onthe process of borrowing elements from the art of Eastern peoples. Especially during this period, Corinth stands out. In the next century, this policy will become the only center of vase painting.

So, in the seventh century BC, Greek masters begin to adopt motifs from imported fabrics and carpets. Sphinxes, lions, griffins and other living creatures "settle" on the walls of the vessels.

Also, a characteristic feature of this era is the "fear of emptiness". So the researchers called the original feature that distinguished the ancient Greek vase painting of the Corinthian style. They tried not to leave a single empty space on the entire surface area.

It was the Corinthian potters who laid the foundation for an entire era in ceramics. The triple firing they invented later showed itself in black-figure amphoras, which we will discuss next.

The researchers divide the orientalizing style into the Corinthian and Attic periods. In the first of them, vase painting developed from schematic animals to natural images of animals and detailed depiction of mythological creatures. The main rule of the potters was to maximize the use of the outer surface of the pots. These vessels can be compared to a painter's canvas or a tapestry wrapped around a vase.

The Attic period is characterized by a braid of geometric elements on the neck and near the bottom. Most of the wall was allocated for the figures of animals and occasionally plants, which were made with black paint.

Black-figure vases

A consequence of the development of the Corinthian andblack-figure vase painting became the early Attic style. This is one of the two most famous and significant techniques in the ancient world, along with the red-figure.

The peculiarity of this stage of production was that the potters stand out as a separate layer of craftsmen. They worked exclusively on creating the shape of the vessel and fixing the finished sample. That is, these artisans sculpted from clay and fired products. Ceramics were painted exclusively by slaves, who were considered significantly lower than potters in their position.

The prepared vessel was fired to the state of "raw". The walls, which were not completely hardened, still made it possible to make notches and apply a layer of prepared material, which later became a stunning decoration. Next, the image was created using glossy clay and a special cutter.

Previously it was believed that such ceramics were varnished, but recent studies have shown that it is slip (glossy type of clay) after firing that makes such a surface of the vessel.

Thus, black-figure vase painting was born within the walls of Corinth, in the workshops of artisans who sought to bring a piece of the mysterious East into the everyday life of the Hellenes.

But after the Orientalized style, dominated by animals, black-figure pottery proper appears. It is already dominated by images of people. The main motifs were feasts, festivities and stories of the Trojan War.

Such production lasted from the seventh to the middle of the sixth century BC. It is being replaced by the red-figure style in ceramics.

Red-figure vase painting

It is believed that red-figure vase painting appeared in the thirties of the sixth century BC. The Athenian Andocides, being a student of the master of black-figure ceramics, began experimenting with colors for the first time. In fact, he just did the opposite. Not a black drawing on a background of unfired clay, but a black background in which an image emerges from the natural color of the material.

This period is famous for the tacit competition between vase painters, who are often called "pioneers" in science. They worked in different cities, but often left messages on each other's vases. For example, on one of the amphoras, the inscription “Epiphanius never knew how to do this” was found. The authorship of the graffiti is attributed to the master Euphimides.

Thus, the red-figure style of vase painting is widely spread. He stepped out of Greece. A similar technique for painting vessels is found in southern Italy. She was also popular among the Etruscans.

It is noteworthy that during this period there is a certain departure from the detailing and naturalization of images. The number of heroes on vessels is decreasing, but perspective, movement and other artistic techniques are beginning to be used professionally.

Now the masters do not specialize in the plot or a certain type of images (animals, people, plants …). From now on, vase painters are divided according to the type of vessels. There were artists who worked exclusively with amphoras. Also, the most common types of ceramic products include bowls, phials, lekythos anddinos.

Drawing on a white background

Ancient Greek vase painting continued to develop. Red and black bilingual vessels are being replaced by a completely new technique for decorating products. Now the background is not black or natural, but white. Also during this period, the masters continue to pay attention exclusively to certain types of vessels.

In particular, painting on a white background was used on terracotta alabastrons, lekythos and aribals. It is believed that Psiax was the first to work in this technique. He created a lekythos in this style in 510 BC. But Pistoksen is considered the most famous vase painter on a white background.

This master worked with the "four-color technique". He used varnish, paint and gilding. The very same white background color was achieved due to limestone clay, which covered the "raw".

Similar styles of vase painting are already moving away from the original decoration of ceramic vessels. Now a completely new direction in art is being created, like original painting.

This period was one of the final in the history of ancient Greek vase painting. Further, production stepped outside the country to the colonies and neighboring states. In addition, now there is a departure from scenes with gods and animals. The new masters focused on the everyday life of the Greeks.

Vessels appear with women going about their daily activities, theater, playing musical instruments, festivities, etc.

Gnafii

Gradually the art of vase painting moves from the Greek metropolises to the colonies. South Italian masters were especially strong. Their most ancient and widespread style was gnathia. This is a specific and very colorful painting technique that appears at the beginning of the fourth century BC.

She has a huge range of colors. There were green and brown, red and orange, yellow and gold, white, black and others. The plot was also characterized at the initial stage by diversity. Cupid met on the vessels, the daily work of women, holidays on the days of veneration of Dionysus, theatrical performances and others.

However, in the thirties of the fourth century BC, there is a sharp restriction of means of expression and scenes. Now only white and black colors are used, and the ornament is greatly simplified. Plants such as grapes, ivy and laurel are depicted mainly, and human faces are sometimes found between shoots and vines.

Thus, Greek vase painting begins to spread throughout the Mediterranean region during the period of red-figure pottery. After all, it was from this technique that gnathia was born, as its continuation.

Next, we will talk about the final stage in the development of this type of ancient art. The center has already moved permanently to the south of Italy.

Kanosa and Centuripe

From now on, Greek vase painting, having passed the period of gnathia, turns into an attribute of rituals. Roman citizens were more interested in weapons, and the most simple and practical dishes were used.

At the final stage, two production centers stand out - Canosa and Centuripe. In the first, vessels were made, painting them with water-solublepaints. This pottery has not been fired and has not been used. She was simply laid in the tombs.

Sicilian craftsmen from Centuripe went further. They didn't even bother to form a whole vessel. Separate parts were produced and painted, which were painted and decorated with stucco. Then, in crypts and sarcophagi, the shards were attached to each other, creating a semblance of a whole jug, bowl or goblet.

Finally, the fine arts of Ancient Greece moved to Italy. Now the Latins used the experience of the ancient masters to decorate the life of their deceased relatives.

As we can see, the painting of vessels after the decline of Hellas gradually faded away and sunk into oblivion. The Roman Empire was built as a state of warriors and patricians, not a philosophical society of explorers and inventors.

Thus, in this article we talked about ancient vase painting. This is an original art form that adorns more than one world museum in two millennia. Masterpieces of ancient Greek vase painting still amaze researchers and connoisseurs of art.

Good luck to you, dear readers! Long journeys and colorful experiences.