The Amasis Painter

Ovoid lekythos – Wedding

Procession

White text: p.34-35

Black text: p.33-35

• Shape: Ovoid lekythos

• Function: Used to hold oil, funeral offerings

• Painter: Amasis Painter

• Potter: Amasis• Technique: black

figure• Date: c.550 B.C

DimensionsDimensions

Height: 17cm

Lower Frieze – subject matterLower Frieze – subject matter

This vase shows a wedding procession, and the narrative runs right-left

See Black text p.34 for whole lower frieze

The procession is heading towards a house, where the door is wide open. The groom’s mother is inside. She carries a torch to welcome the happy couple.

A woman leads the procession, carrying two torches to light the way

The newlyweds (plus another man) ride on the first carriage. The bride holds what may be a ritual crown, and holds out her veil with her left hand

The second carriage carries four men (probably relatives of the bride, accompanying her to the new house)

Each carriage is escorted by two women and one man

Upper Frieze – subject matter

Two seated men play musical instruments – on this side a lyre, and on the other side a flute

As musicians play, nine young girls dance stiffly around the vase – probably part of the wedding festivities shown in the lower frieze

Painting Technique

Detail is incised through the black slip, especially on the mules and the men’s beards

Lots of white slip has been used:

women’s flesh, carriages, the Doric columns on the house

Drapery All figures wear clothes that are flat and foldless.

Detailing is shown on the cloth, but no attempt to show depth.

Women wear the peplos

The men wear the himation and the chiton, except the groom.

The groom does not have a chiton, and therefore his right shoulder is bare.

Style and Technique• Superior to other Lekythos in

artistry• Details more precise and realistic• Sense of motion and direction

– All figures in profile– Varied poses to create sense of

movement• Upper frieze sits more easily on

shoulder and has some relationship with main frieze

• Depth - one figure placed behind the other – women behind mule

• Amasis painter not as advanced in use of anatomy to convey mood and movement– Simple clear outlines, no internal

anatomy– Draper flat, folds indicated by

widely separated lines– No sugestion of figures being 3D