In this article, we, dear readers, will consider the vase painting styles of Ancient Greece. This is an original, bright and stunning layer of ancient culture. Anyone who saw with their own eyes an amphora, lecithus or Scythos will forever retain in their memory their unsurpassed beauty.
Next, we will talk with you about a variety of painting techniques and styles, and also mention the most influential centers for the development of this art.
Vazopis Ancient Greece
Stunning vase paintings of ancient Greece delight the eye of tourists and are a welcome subject in the collection of many art lovers. These multi-colored vessels delight with a variety of forms, 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 (figures will be given later) went from a simple pot burned at the stake to a masterpiece of ancient painting in the form of a red-figure bilingual amphora.
Due to their exceptional beauty and sophistication, these items quickly became popular imports to different parts of Europe and Asia. They are found both in Celtic graves and in the tombs of the Middle East and North Africa.
The following fact is interesting. The very first specimens were found in Etruscan crypts, and initially no one connected them with the Greeks. Only at the end of the nineteenth century did Johann Winkelmann prove their Hellenic origin. After such a discovery, the ancient Greek vase painting became one of the most important topics in the study of antiquity.
Today, vessels allow not only to restore many areas of the life of this people, but also to date various events, as well as get acquainted with the names of the masters.
We will talk more about this later, but in one of the periods the vase painters even had a competition. Judging by graffiti, they boasted to each other that their vessel is better.
Vazopis centers and technologists
Thanks to the finds of archaeologists today, many museums in the world can boast of vase paintings of ancient Greece. There are ancient vessels from the island of Crete and Corinthian ceramics, black and red-figured amphoras, lekifs and other types of dishes.
In the mainland, the main production centers 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. As in the early Hellenic period, he moved from Crete to the mainland. Two cities stand out here - the Sicilian Centuripa and the southern Italian Canosa.
We should also dwell on the technology with which Greek vases were made. The figures indicate the use of the potter’s wheel already in 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, chamotte and sand were added to it. In addition, clay was specially “aged”. The process included a long aging of the raw materials in a humid room after washing. As a result of this, she became very supple and supple.
Then the material was kneaded and laid on a potter's wheel. The finished vessel was dried in the shade for several days, after which the painting was applied. Only after all these procedures the subject was fired.
Aegean period
The earliest examples of this art form are the vessels of Minoan, Minoan and Mycenaean ceramics. The first, in particular, is also called Vasares Kamares (by the name of the grotto on the island of Crete, where samples were first discovered).
As we said earlier, such a painting of ceramics appears around the middle of the third millennium BC. The first period, which correlates with the early Hellenic or Aegean era, is divided by scientists into several sub-periods.
The first lasted until about the twenty-first century BC. At this time, simple geometric ornaments prevailed on the monochrome walls of the vessels. Then he is replaced by the style of Kamares. He stands out among contemporary ceramics. The main distinguishing feature is the white spiral and floral elements that were applied to the matte background of the vessel.
In the seventeenth century BC, the nature of the pattern changes significantly. Now marine elements are becoming predominant: octopuses, fish, corals, nautiluses, dolphins and others. From the middle of the fifteenth century, a period of decline has been observed in Cretan painting.
But on the mainland, the so-called "archaic vase painting" is developing at this time. First of all, Minian ceramics should be attributed here. She 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 ceramics.
The seventeenth century BC was a turning point in both mainland Greece and the Cyclades. At this time, Mycenaean culture spreads here with its motifs in the vase painting. Researchers divide it into four periods, leading up to the era of the Dorian invasion of the country (in the eleventh century BC).
Judging by the drawing, in the early Mycenaean painting simple matte dark drawings prevail on a light background. About the fifteenth century BC they are replaced by plants and representatives of the animal world. And in the thirteenth century before Christ, human figures and ships appeared. The latter is often associated with the Trojan War, which belonged to approximately this period.
Geometry
In the middle of the twelfth century, the fine arts of Ancient Greece fell into decay along with the rest of the culture. The period before the tenth century is considered the "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 “Sub-Mycenaean” tradition, when the shapes of the vessels were preserved, but the drawings on them disappeared.
After comes the period of protogeometric ornament. Basically, ceramics was characterized by two horizontal circular stripes near the neck and in the middle of the vessel. Between them usually were concentric circles, which were created using a compass.
Significantly complicated composition in the tenth century BC. Now there are single and double meanders. Often geometric objects played the role of a frieze on the wall of a vessel. Under 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 nose, and the legs were depicted with two cylinders (thigh and lower leg).
Waves of the East
Gradually, the ancient Greek culture improved. Images become more complicated, the 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 animals "settle" on the walls of blood vessels.
Also a characteristic feature of this era is the “fear of emptiness”. So the researchers called the original feature, which distinguished the ancient Greek vase painting of the Corinthian style. They tried not to leave a single empty space over the entire surface area.
It was the Corinthian potters who laid the foundation of an era in ceramics. The triple firing, which they invented, later proved to be in black-figure amphorae, which we will talk about later.
Researchers divide the orientalizing style into the Corinthian and Attic periods. In the first of them, the vase painting evolved from schematic animals to natural images of animals and detailed drawings of mythological creatures. The main rule of potters was to maximize the use of the outer surface of pots. These vessels can be compared with the painter’s canvas or tapestry, fitting a vase.
The Attic period is characterized by a band of geometric elements on the neck and near the bottom. Most of the wall stood out for the figures of animals and occasionally plants, which were carried out in black paint.
Black Figure Vases
The consequence of the development of the Corinthian and Early Attic style was the black-figure vase. This is one of the two most famous and significant techniques in the ancient world, along with red-figured.
A feature of this stage of production was that the potters stand out in a separate layer of craftsmen. They worked solely on creating the shape of the vessel and securing the finished sample. That is, these artisans sculpted from clay and burned products. The 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". Not completely hardened walls still allowed notching and applying a layer of prepared material, which subsequently 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, however, recent studies have proved that it is the slip (glossy clay type) after firing that makes such a surface of the vessel.
Thus, the 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 an orientalized style, in which animals predominated, black-figure ceramics proper appeared. It is already dominated by images of people. The main motives were feasts, festivities and plots of the Trojan War.
Such production lasted from the seventh to the middle of the sixth century BC. He is being replaced by a red-figure style in ceramics.
Red figure vase
It is believed that the red-figure vase painting appeared in the thirties of the sixth century BC. The Athenian Andokid, being a student of the master of black-figure ceramics, began for the first time to experiment with flowers. In fact, he just did the opposite. Not a black picture on a background of unfired clay, but a black background, in which an image is drawn from the natural color of the material.
It is this period that is famous for the unspoken competition between the vase painters, who are often called "pioneers" in science. They worked in different cities, but often left messages to each other on vases. For example, on one of the amphorae the inscription “Epiphanius never knew how” was found. The authorship of graffiti is attributed to the master Euphemides.
Thus, the red-figure style of vase painting is widely distributed. He has stepped already outside 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 some departure from the detailing and naturalization of images. The number of heroes on the vessels is reduced, but perspective, movement, and other artistic techniques begin to be professionally used.
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 amphorae. Also the most common types of ceramic products include bowls, violets, lekifs and dinos.
Drawing on a white background
Ancient Greek vase painting continued to develop. Red and black vessels of bilinguals are replaced by a completely new technique for decorating products. Now the background is not black or natural, but white. Also during this period, masters continue to pay attention exclusively to certain types of vessels.
In particular, painting on a white background was used on terracotta alabastrons, lekifs and aribals. It is believed that the first in this technique worked Psiaks. He in 510 BC created a lekif in this style. But the most famous vase painter on a white background is Pistoxen.
This master worked as a “four-color technique”. He used varnish, paint and gilding. The very white color of the background was achieved due to the limestone clay, which covered the "raw".
Such vase painting styles are already moving away from the initial 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 into colonies and neighboring states. In addition, now there is a departure from scenes with gods and animals. New masters focused on the everyday life of the Greeks.
Vessels with women engaged in everyday affairs appear, a theater, playing musical instruments, festivals and more are depicted.
Gnafii
Gradually, the art of vase painting moves from the Greek metropolis to the colony. Especially strong were the southern Italian masters. The most ancient and common style was gnafia. This is a specific and very colorful technique of painting, which appears at the beginning of the fourth century BC.
She has a huge assortment of colors. Here 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, the daily work of women, holidays during the days of veneration of Dionysus, theatrical performances and others met on the vessels.
However, in the thirties of the fourth century BC, there was a sharp limitation of the means of expression and scenes. Now only white and black colors are applied, and the ornament is greatly simplified. Mostly plants are depicted, such as grapes, ivy and laurel, and sometimes human faces are found between shoots and vines.
Thus, Greek vase painting begins to spread throughout the Mediterranean region during the period of red-figure ceramics. Indeed, it was from this technique that the gnafia was born, as its continuation.
Next, we will talk about the final stage of development of this type of antique art. The center has already moved completely to the south of Italy.
Canosa and Centuripe
From now on, the Greek vase painting, having passed the period of gnaphia, 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 are distinguished - Canosa and Centuripe. In the first, vessels were made, painted with water-soluble paints. These dishes were not fired and were not in use. She was just put in tombs.
Sicilian craftsmen from Centuripe went further. They did not even bother to form a whole vessel. Separate parts were produced and painted, which were painted and decorated with stucco molding. Then in the crypts and sarcophagi the shards were attached to each other, creating the likeness of a whole jug, bowl or goblet.
The finally fine art of Ancient Greece moved to Italy. Now the Latins used the experience of ancient masters to decorate the life of their deceased relatives.
As we see, the painting of vessels after the decline of Hellas gradually faded away and sank into oblivion. The Roman Empire was built as a state of warriors and patricians, and not a philosophical society of researchers and inventors.
Thus, in this article we talked about the antique vase painting. This is an original art form that adorns more than one world museum in two millennia. Masterpieces of vase painting of Ancient Greece still amaze researchers and connoisseurs of painting.
Good luck to you, dear readers! Long travels and colorful experiences.