Laconic vase painting

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Name vase of the horseman painter, bowl, around 550/30 BC Chr.

The Laconic vase painting is a regional style of Greek vase painting , which in the 7th century. In the landscape of Laconia , the dominion of Sparta .

The first ornamental ceramics were created in Laconia during the Geometric period. It was rather inanimate and, especially compared to the leading ceramics from Attica, rather provincial. Often the ceramic attic was only imitated.

Laconic pottery was known in significant numbers from Etruscan tombs since the 19th century . At first, however, it was incorrectly assigned and for a long time was considered a product from Cyrene , where some of the earliest finds were also made. Thanks to British excavations carried out at Sparta's Artemis Orthia sanctuary since 1906 , its true origins were quickly discovered. In 1934 Arthur Lane summarized the known material and was the first archaeologist to distinguish between different painters. In 1956 the new discoveries were examined by Brian B. Shefton . He reduced the recognizable painters by half. The Arkesilas painter , the hunting painter and the horseman painter remained . In 1958 and 1959 other important new finds from Taranto were published. In addition, a significant number of other vases were found on Samos . Conrad M. Stibbe re- examined all 360 vases known to him and published his findings in 1972. He distinguished between five major and three minor vase painters. In addition to the three well-known, there were the Boread painter , the Naukratis painter , the Allard Pierson painter , the Typhon painter and the Chimeira painter . Other archaeologists have recognized other painters, such as the painter of the fish of Taranto or the Grammichele painter .

Amphora in the style of the hunting painter with a gorgon head, cranes and sphinxes, around 540/30 BC Chr.

The tone of the laconic vases is orange, finely muddy and of high quality. The vessels were completely or partially provided with a yellowish-cream-colored coating. The first vases of significant quality were made around 580 BC. Chr. Produced. The bowl is the guiding form of Laconian pottery . The bowl rim and bowl basin were initially sharply separated from each other, until the middle of the century the transitions became more fluid. The earliest bowls did not have a foot, later it was short but strong. In the next stage of development around 570 BC The foot gained height, only to become short and strong again towards the end of the production period. Laconic vases were quite common. Pieces have been found in Marseille , Taranto, Reggio , Cumae , Nola , Naukratis , Sardis , Rhodes , Samos, Etruria and almost all of mainland Greece. On Samos they were at times more widespread than imports from Corinth, which was probably due to the close political connection between Sparta and the island. In addition to bowls, amphorae , hydria , laconic craters , volute craters , lebetes , lakaina and aryballoi were also produced.

Laconic crater without figurative painting, first half of the 6th century

The pottery was probably made by Periöks . Spartan families are also known who practiced handicrafts that were important to the war effort, but the pottery trade will not have been one of them. Helots worked exclusively in agriculture. There is also the theory that the craftsmen were wandering potters from Eastern Greece. For example, the strong Eastern Greek influence in the pictures, especially the Boread painter, would speak for this. Production took place partly for the domestic market and partly for export. Bowls were primarily produced for export, the Spartan Lakaina drinking vessel for the domestic market. Some painters' works have not yet been found in Laconia at all, and some workshops may have only been oriented towards export. One can assume that the craftsmen were pottery painters. Peculiarities in the shape of certain vessels were only found in works that were ascribed to individual painters. No workshops have been found so far; they may be in Periöken settlements that have not yet been excavated. Potters or vase painters have not signed their works. Otherwise, inscriptions are rather rare and only known for names.

Zeus and eagle on a bowl by the horseman painter, around 560 BC Chr.

The painters use additional colors such as red and white quite extensively, but also very carefully, which contributed to increasing the decorative effect. Earlier than in other local styles, for example in Corinth , Attica or Eastern Greece , the figurative interior of the bowl developed into the carrier of the main image. Around 570 BC The Boreading painter divided it into segments, possibly under the impression of Eastern Greek plates. These zones should become typical of the shells from Laconia. The Boreading painter also introduced the three-part decoration of the outside of the bowl (pomegranates, tongues and rays) typical of Laconia. The painters showed scenes from everyday life, hunting pictures, symposium scenes and depictions of war. In addition, many mythological events were shown. The most popular figure here was Heracles , who is usually shown fighting with animals or monsters. In addition, Troilos and Achilles , Atlas , the hunt for the Calydonian boar , the return of Hephaestus to Olympus , Prometheus and the blinding of Polyphemus are shown. Most common gods are Zeus and Poseidon . The interior image can also be taken up by the grimace of a Gorgon . Images from the Trojan or Theban sagas are common. Laconic peculiarities of the representation are, for example, a rider with a volute tendril growing out of his head or the representation of the nymph Cyrene . Some vases are only covered with glossy shade or have a few ornaments painted.

Bowl of the Arkesilas Painter showing Arkesilaos overseeing his subjects loading a ship, around 565/60 BC. Chr.

For the dating, finds from Taranto and Tokra are decisive. The heyday of laconic pottery is in the period between 575 and 525 BC. BC. The representation of Arkesilaos on the name vase of the Arkesilas painter also gives a chronological indication . It was probably made during his reign. The mostly very high quality works of laconic vase painting are among the most important Greek vase paintings.

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Commons : Laconic Vases  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files