Painting in Ancient Greece. Styles of the Ancient Greece

In this article, we, dear readers, consider the styles of vase painting of Ancient Greece. This is an original, bright and stunning layer of ancient culture. Anyone who has seen with his own eyes the amphora, lekif or skiffos, will forever remember their unsurpassed beauty.

Next, we will talk with you about a variety of techniques and styles of painting, as well as mention the most influential centers of development of this art.

The Vase of Ancient Greece

Stunning examples of ancient Greece's vase paintings delight the eyes of tourists and are a welcome subject in the collection of many connoisseurs of art. These colorful vessels delight in the variety of shapes, plots and colors.

In this article, we will consider the styles of vases, starting from the periodization of the culture of Hellas. Greek vases (the drawings will be shown below) went from a simple pot, burned at the stake, to a masterpiece of antique painting in the form of a red-figured amphora-bilingual.

Due to their exceptional beauty and sophistication, these items quickly became a popular import to different parts of Europe and Asia. They are found both in Celtic burials, and in the tombs of the Middle East and North Africa.

The following fact is interesting. The very first samples were found in Etruscan crypts, and initially no one connected them with the Greeks. Only in the late nineteenth century Johann Winkelmann proved their Hellenic origin. After this discovery, the ancient Greek vase painting became one of the most important themes in the study of antiquity.

Today the vessels allow not only to restore many spheres of life of this people, but also to date various events, as well as to get acquainted with the names of the masters.

More on this, we'll talk further, but in one of the periods the vass painters even had a competition. Judging by the graffiti, they boasted to each other that their vessel is better.

Centers and Technologists of Vases

Thanks to the finds of archaeologists today, many museums of the world can boast samples of the ancient Greece's vases. 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 still masters from Laconia and Boeotia. It was in these policies that they invented a variety of methods for decorating blood vessels.

Later the production center moves to southern Italy. As well as in the early Hellenic period, he moved from Crete to the mainland. There are two cities - Sicilian Centurupa and South Italian Canosa.

Separately it is worthwhile to dwell on the technology with which the Greek vases were made. Figures show the use of the potter's wheel already in the second millennium BC.

Clay was selected according to the colors. In some areas, it was of different colors - from yellow to brown. In case the material was very oily, chamotte and sand were added to it. In addition, clay specifically "old". The process included a long exposure of the raw material in a humid room after washing. As a consequence, it became very elastic and supple.

Then the material was kneaded and placed on a potter's wheel. The finished vessel was dried in the shade for a few days, then the painting was applied. Only after all these procedures the object was subjected to firing.

Aegean period

The earliest examples of this art are the vessels of the Minoan, Minni and Mycenaean pottery. The first, in particular, is still called the vault of Kamares (after the name of the grotto on the island of Crete, where samples were first discovered).

As we said earlier, a similar painting of pottery appears around the middle of the third millennium BC. The first period, which corresponds to the early Hellenic or Aegean era, is divided by scientists into several subperiods.

The first lasted until about the twenty-first century BC. At this time, simple geometric patterns on single-colored walls of blood vessels prevailed. Then he is replaced by the style of Kamares. He stands out among contemporary ceramics. The main distinguishing feature are white spiral and floral elements, which were applied to the matte background of the vessel.

In the seventeenth century BC, the character of the drawing changes significantly. Now the sea elements predominate: octopuses, fish, corals, nautilus, dolphins and others. Since the middle of the fifteenth century, a period of decline has been observed in the Cretan painting.

But on the mainland, the so-called archaic vases are developing at this time. First of all, here it is necessary to include Mini ceramics. It was thin-walled, without drawings. This kind 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 both in the mainland Greece and the Cycladic islands. At this time the Mycenaean culture spread here with its motifs in the vases. 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 mural, simple matte dark drawings predominate against 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's birth, human figures and ships appear. The latter is often associated with the Trojan War, which related to 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 until the tenth century is considered a "dark time" in the development of this people.

If we talk about ceramics, then in this era distinguish three styles of painting. With the arrival of the Dorians, most of the achievements of Mycenaean culture are lost. Until the middle of the eleventh century there was a stage of the "submican" tradition, when forms of vessels were preserved, but drawings on them disappeared.

Then comes the period of proto-geometric ornament. Basically, ceramics were characterized by two horizontal circular bands near the neck and in the middle of the vessel. Between them usually located concentric circles, which were created with the help of a compass.

Significantly complicated composition in the tenth century BC. Now single and double meanders appear. Often, geometric objects played the role of a frieze on the wall of the vessel. Below them were stylized images of people, plants and animals.

Gradually the ancient Greek culture progressed. During the period of Homer's life, there is a tendency to reduce the area of geometric friezes, which are replaced by military processions with chariots or a string of diverse wild animals.

The predominant color of the drawings was black or red on a white background. During this period, all the anthropomorphic figures were depicted schematically. The body of the men was in the form of an inverted triangle, the head - an oval with a hint to the nose, and the legs were represented by two cylinders (thigh and shin).

Eastward trends

Gradually, the ancient Greek culture is being improved. The images become more complicated, the process of borrowing elements from the art of Oriental peoples is taking place. Especially in this period stands out Corinth. In the nearest century, this policy will become the only center of the vase painting.

So, in the seventh century BC Greek masters begin to adopt motifs from imported fabrics and carpets. On the walls of the vessels "settle" sphinxes, lions, griffins and other living creatures.

Also characteristic feature of this era is the "fear of emptiness." So the researchers called the original feature, which was different from the ancient Greek vase writing of the Corinthian style. On the whole surface area, we tried not to leave any unfilled place.

It was the Corinthian potters that laid the foundation of an era in ceramics. The triple firing, which they invented, subsequently showed itself in black-figure amphorae, about which we will talk later.

The orientalizing style of the researchers is divided into the Corinthian and Attic periods. In the first of these, the vase painting developed from schematic animals to natural images of animals and detailed depiction of mythological creatures. The main rule of potters was the maximum use of the outer surface of the pots. These vessels can be compared to a painter's canvas or a tapestry that covers a vase.

Attic the same period is characterized by a braid of geometric elements on the neck and near the bottom. The greater part of the wall was allocated to the figures of animals and occasionally plants, which were performed with black paint.

Black-figured vases

The consequence of the development of the Corinthian and Early-Athetic style was the black-figure vase painting. This is one of the two most famous and significant techniques in the ancient world, along with the red-figure.

The peculiarity of this stage of production was that potters are allocated in a separate layer of masters. They worked exclusively on creating the shape of the vessel and fixing the finished sample. That is, these artisans molded from clay and burned products. The painting of ceramics was handled solely by slaves, who were considered significantly below potters by their position.

The prepared vessel was fired to the "raw" state. Not completely hardened walls allowed to make incisions and apply a layer of prepared material, which later became a stunning decoration. Then the image was created with the help of glossy clay and a special cutter.

Previously, it was thought that such ceramics were varnished, but recent studies have proven that it is the slip (glossy type of clay) that makes such a surface of the vessel after roasting.

Thus, the black-figure vazopis was born in 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 the orientalized style, in which animals prevailed, black-figured ceramics appeared. It already dominates the images of people. The main motives were feasts, festivities and stories of the Trojan War.

This production lasted from the seventh to the middle of the sixth century BC. In its place comes the red-figure style in ceramics.

Red-figure vase painting

It is believed that the red-figured vase painting appeared in the thirties of the sixth century BC. The Athenian Andokid, being a disciple of the master of black-figured ceramics, began experimenting with flowers for the first time. In fact, he just did the opposite. Not a black drawing on the background of unfired clay, but a black background, in which an image of the natural color of the material appears.

It is this period that is famous for the unspoken competition between the vass painters, who in science are often called "pioneers". They worked in different cities, but often left each other on vases messages. For example, on one of the amphorae, the inscription "Epiphanius has never been able to do so" is found. The authorship of graffiti is attributed to Master Eufimid.

Thus, the red-figured style of vase writing spreads quite widely. He has already stepped outside of Greece. A similar technique of painting vessels is found in Southern Italy. It was also popular among the Etruscans.

It is noteworthy that during this period there is a certain departure from the detailing and naturalization of images. The number of heroes on the vessels is reduced, but the perspective, movement and other artistic techniques begin to be professionally used.

Now the masters are not specializing in a plot or a certain type of images (animals, people, plants ...). Henceforth the vasopresses 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, vials, lekifs and dinos.

Drawing on a white background

Ancient Greek vase painting continued to develop. To replace the red-black vessels bilinguals comes a completely new technique of decorating products. Now the background is not black or natural, but white. Also during this period the masters continue to pay attention solely to individual types of vessels.

In particular, the painting on a white background was applied on terracotta alabastrones, leksifs and aribals. It is believed that the first in this technique worked Psiaks. He created a Lekif in this style in 510 BC. But the most famous vassel in the white background is Pistoksen.

This master worked as a "four-color technique." He used lacquer, paint and gilding. The very same white background color was achieved due to limestone clay, which was covered with "raw".

Similar styles of vases are already departing from the original decoration of ceramic vessels. Now an entirely new direction is being created in art, like the original painting.

This period was one of the last in the history of ancient Greek vase painting. Further production stepped outside the country in the colony and neighboring states. In addition, now there is a departure from the scenes with the gods and animals. New masters focused on the everyday life of the Greeks.

There are vessels with women engaged in everyday affairs, the theater, playing musical instruments, festivities and so on are depicted.

Gnafia

Gradually, the art of vase painting moves from the Greek metropolises to the colony. Especially strong were the South 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 flowers. There were green and brown, red and orange, yellow and gold, white, black and others. The plot was also characterized at the initial stage by variety. On the vessels there was cupid, the daily work of women, holidays in the days of veneration of Dionysus, theatrical performances and others.

However, in the thirties of the fourth century BC there was a sharp restriction of means of expression and scenes. Now only white and black colors are used, and the ornament is much simpler. Mostly plants are depicted, such as grapes, ivy and laurel, and sometimes there are human faces between shoots and vines.

Thus, Greek vase painting begins to spread throughout the Mediterranean region during the period of red-figured ceramics. After all, it was precisely 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 ancient art. The center has already moved finally to the south of Italy.

Canosa and Centurupe

From now on, the Greek vase painting, having passed the period of the Gnafiah, turns into an attribute of rituals. Roman citizens were more interested in weapons, and the utensils used the simplest and most practical.

At the final stage, there are two production centers - Canosa and Centurupe. In the first, they made vessels, painting them with water-soluble paints. This dish was not fired and was not in use. She was simply put in tombs.

The Sicilian masters from Centurupe went further. They did not even work to form a whole vessel. Some parts were made and signed, which were painted and decorated with stucco molding. Then, in the crypts and sarcophagi, the shards were attached to each other, creating a semblance of a whole jug, bowl or goblet.

Finally, the fine arts of Ancient Greece moved to the territory of Italy. Now the Latins used the experience of ancient masters to decorate the life of their deceased relatives.

As we see, the painting of the vessels after the decline of Hellas gradually came to naught and sank into oblivion. The Roman Empire was built as a state of soldiers and patricians, and not a philosophical society of researchers and inventors.

Thus, in this article, we talked about the antique vase painting. It is an original kind of art that adorns in two millennia not one world museum. Masterpieces of the vase painting of ancient Greece still surprise researchers and connoisseurs of painting.

Good luck to you, dear readers! Long travel and colorful impressions.