1. Greek Archaic Period 800-480 BC Part 1: Orientalizing Pottery 750-650 BC

2. A Glance Back
Mycenaean civilization ended around the 12th century B.C.
The Greek dark ages lasted from century B.C.
The Geometric Period ranged from about 1050 – 700 BC
A new phase began thereafter: Orientalizing Period:

3. Orientalizing Pottery
The Orientalizing period began approx. 750 BC and ended in approx century B.C.
During this period there was an increase in trade between Greece, Egypt and Middle East. This caused the cultures to borrow ideas from each other and the Greek pottery reflected this, hence the name “Orientalizing”, referring to the Middle East and Egypt, not China.

4. What’s the difference?

5. Difference in Design
There is a more realistic rendering of creatures and humans on the pots
Multiple figures are placed all the way around the piece

6. Mythological creatures
Images of sphinx’s and other Egyptian and middle-eastern creatures of myth become common due to influence

7. Difference in Methods
Two different groups began to create orientalizing pottery: Athenians and the Corinthians
The Corinthian orientalizing potter was known as proto-Corinthian
The Athenian orientalizing pottery was known as proto-attic

8. Proto-Corinthian
Proto-Corinthian became much more advanced than its Athenian counterpart

9. Proto-Attic
Proto-Attic (Athenian) pottery began later than the proto-Corinthian .
Their style was based on proto-Corinthian and kept more of the geometric designs of the last period.

10. A look Forward
These figures that are painted in black are the first use of a style that will be used more often in a later period known as black figure pottery

11. Archaic Period Part 2: Black and Red Figure Vase Painting
600-late 480 BC

12. Black Figure Vase Painting
Common between 600’s-500’s BC.
Just after the Orientalizing period.
Technique:
Silhouetted shapes were painted on a jar using a liquid clay known as slip.
Details on these shapes were produced by incising or scratching into the slip.
When fired, the image turned black, background remained color of clay.
Images were realistically portrayed.
Designs on pots based on pot’s function.

13. Black Figure Vase Painting
First art style to give rise to a significant number of identifiable artists (sign their work)
Exekias (500’s BC) famous black figure vase painter.
Many of his works feature key moments in the lives of the gods

14. Black Figure Vase Painting
Exekias: “Dionysus in a ship”, 530 BC
signed
(ΕΧΣΕΚΙΑΣ ΕΠΟΕΣΕ)

15. Black Figure Vase Painting
Group E (550–525)A large, self contained collection of artisans, considered to be the most important anonymous group producing black-figure Attic pottery.
Hoplitodromos: Race with armor

16. Black Figure Vase Painting
Focus on Mythological scenes
Wrestling of Peleus and Atalanta for the funerary games of king Pelias, 550 BC
Heracles kills the Nemean Lion, BC

17. Red Figure Vase Painting
Began 530 BC in Athens
New experiment, paint slip on everything but the figure.
Allowed one to paint in details rather than incising them.
Replaced Black figure painting.
Name comes from reddish figures against black background.
Largest produces: Attica, S. Italy
Attic red figure Vases exported to many areas.
Produced in Athens: 40,000 specimens survive today.
S. Italy: more than 20,000 survive today.
Some vases can be ascribed to an individual or school

18. Red Figure Vase Painting
Technique:
It is the reverse of black figure technique.
Paintings were applied to the shaped but unfired vessels after they had dried to a leathery, near-brittle texture.
The outlines of the intended figures were drawn either with a blunt scraper, leaving a slight groove
The space between figures was filled with a glossy grey clay slip.
The vases underwent triple-phase firing, during which the glossy clay reached its characteristic black or black-brown color

19. Red Figure Vase Painting
The invention of the technique normally is accredited to the Andokides Painter.
The Pioneer Group: full exploitation of the possibilities of the red-figure technique. active between 520 and 500 BC
Figures appeared in new perspectives, such as frontal or rear views
Foreshortening: used for “Perspective” (depth)

20. Red Figure Vase Painting
Warriors flanked by Hermes and Athena, Andokides Painter, 530 BC.
Athletes preparing for a competition, ascribed to Euphronios (Pioneer Group), BC