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PROTO-GEOMETRIC PERIOD

The first major style produced by Athens

Development and Innovations

Amphora975-950 BC

• Began in Athens• 11th Century• Mycenaean period

1425 - 1300 BC

Development and Innovations

Amphora975-950 BC

• Mycenaean period– Strongest influence =

shapes chosen for decoration• Belly Amphora, the neck

handled amphora, the krater, the lekythos and oinochoe

#1 - Fast wheel Use• Increased height and

surface• Invented 2000BC

– Fell out of use– rediscovered

#2 – Firing Process• Temperature increased

– Darker, more lustrous glaze

Design and Decoration• Clay ground Technique

– Most common– Painting dark designs on light-

coloured clay body

• Dark Ground Technique– Towards end of period– Black slip– Small area left in reserve

• Designs painted inside

Design and Decoration• Multiple Brush

– Several even lines to be painted at once while turning

– Also used to create circles

Design and Decoration• Other Stylistic features

– Checkerboard pattern– Zigzags– Triangles– Hatched rectangles– lozenges

• The First Attic Style– Proto-Geometric style copied

by potters in Corinth, Boetia and the Aegean Islands

GEOMETRIC PERIOD

The next stage in pottery evolution

• Linear designs– Circle fell out of use– Meander– Used to frame panels

of decoration– Favoured lekythoi and

amphora– Dark style

Dipylon amphora

Decorated with a scene of mourning

c. 750 BC

• Figures from Nature– After 800BC– Animals and other

figures– Absorbed by overall

decoration– Still linear

• Human Figures– After animals =

humans– First human

appears approx. 770BC

– Abstract• Male• Female • Filling ornament

– Make a balanced pattern of light and dark – no figure too prominent

• The Dipylon Painter– Leading artist– 750 BC– Named after area in Athens – Dipylon

Gate– 1.5 metre tall Grave marker

OREIENTALISING PERIOD

At conclusion of 8th century = end of Athens’ dominance as centre of

artistic innovationCorinth takes over

new range of subjects and motifs

Decoration

Corinthian olpe, decorated animal styl - 600 BC

• The Animal Style– Exotic beasts like lions and

panthers– Deer and goats– Mythological creatures

• Pegasus (winged horse)• Sphinx (bird/lion/woman)• Griffin (eagle/lion)

• Plant Designs– Lotus flowers, buds,

palmettes, volutes– Filling ornament

Middle Corinthian aryballos decorated

in the black figure technique

- 590 BC

• Human Figures– More elaborate– Fully armed Greek soldiers– Rigid, stylised

• The Black-Figure technique– One of the Greatest

innovations– Sharp instrument – deep

incisions – light coloured clay beneath

– Confined to smaller vessels

• New Vase Shapes– Aryballos, Skyphos

Middle Corinthian aryballos decorated

in the black figure technique

- 590 BC

PRO-ATTIC PERIOD

Style produced in Athens during Orientalising period

Different to Corinthian styleGreek myths popularLarge scale painting

• Amphora from Eleusis– Neck: Odysseus

blinding Polyphemus– Belly: Perseus and

Gorgans

• Amphora from Eleusis decorated with mythological

scenes• 7th Century BC

• Painted in outline• Two crewmen and Cyclops in

black silhouette• Faces painted white to

emphasise importance

• Gorgans chasing Perseus

• Demise of Style– Unrestrained creativity– Disciplined influence of

Corinthian Orientalising style

BLACK FIGURE TECHNIQUE

Olpe by the Amasis Painter

Depicts Perseus killing the gorgan Medusa

• Old Features Cont.– Animals and animal

friezes– Ornamentation

• Floral and stylised

– Patterns no longer a filling ornament• Accent shape of

vessel• Framing

• Innovations– White paint on female flesh– Male flesh stays black– More naturalistic human form– After 6th Century – attempt ¾

pose– Depiction of drapery

• Miniature and Grand Styles– Miniature Style = inspired by Corinthian– Grand Style = created by potters in Athens

RED FIGURE TECHNIQUE

Invented approx. 530 BCMore lively, natural appearance

The Berlin Painter

• Innovations– Relief line – raised line

off surface – syringe-like tool• Greater texture

– Honey-coloured dilute glaze used for shading

– Pose and dress– Male– Female

Belly amphora• Berlin Painter• 520-510 BC

– Relief lines used to create elaborate drapery

– Appear to be sculpted like stone

Clothing