GREEK CERAMICS ANDVASE PAINTING

Pre-Greek Minoan

Minoan culture was located on Crete Lasted appr. 3100 BCE – 1100 BCE Two main types of pottery: Marine and Kamare

•Marineware-Sea life imagery-Organic lines

•Kamare-Geometric line-Repetition

Geometric (900-650 BCE)

Largely found on funerary urns

Imagery divided into tiers or layers

Figures represented by basic geometric forms

Archaic (600-480 BCE)

Less emphasis on surrounding motifs

Focus on larger central figures

Often tell a mythological or historical narrative

Exekias. The Suicide Of Ajax.

Black Figure Painting

•The natural reddish color of the ceramics acts as a background.•Black is slip is applied to create imagery, then is carefully engraved away for details and fine lines.

Red Figure Painting

•Red figure painting used slip to fill the background negative space.•Details could then be painted on the figures with a fine brush.•This allowed for much finer control of lines.

Black Figure

Red Figure

Amphora: 2 handled. Used for transporting oils and wines

Krater: Wide shape. Water and wine were mixed in before drinking. “Punch bowl”

Hydria: 3 handles. Used for carrying and pouring water.

Kylix and Kantharos: drinking cups

Loutrophorus: Water container for wedding and funeral rituals

Lebes Gamikos: Water container for wedding ceremonies

Kylix

Kantharos

Volute Krater Calyx Krater