Lysippides
Encyclopedia
The Lysippides Painter worked in Athens
in the second half of the 6th century BC. He was a black-figure
painter of a classic style. He most probably trained with Ezekias in his workshop until moving to the Andokides
workshop where he mainly painted large, expensive vases and did some work on bilingual vases with Andokides P being the red-figure
painter. He was named, after much debate ensuring he was not the Andokides Painter using red-figure, after a Kalos found on one of his vases.
Of the 204 Vases attributed to Lysippides P in the Beazley archives, 112 are large amphorae. These contain all variations of Amphorae, Amphora A, Amphora B, Amphora Neck, and 4 Panathenaic Amphorae.
ian in the basin. These Gorgonians are typical of the Nikostenes workshop which it is believed Lysippides was lent to on occasion.
, fighting Amazons (Amazonomachy), and fighting giants (Giantomachy). He is almost always shown in his lion cape, with hood resting on the back of his black hair, defined with white paint. The arms of the lion are tied around his chest (where muscles are also well defined with white lines).
Warriors and fights are equally important in Lysippides' vases. Some show warriors fighting over a fallen soldier, others show battles. Almost all soldiers have Boeotia
on shields and spears, many with Corinth
ian helmets. They are typical of ancient Greek vases, and show glory, arête and honor, all values held high by the Greeks.
Other subjects include Amazonomachys, Giantomachys and scene with Dionysos, often surrounded by the double-leafed vine.
While the shape of the vase is mostly considered to be chosen by the workshop, the subject could very well have been the decision of the artist himself. While these subjects chosen are typical of many Greek vases the prevalence of Herakles in Lysippides vases is certainly significant of both his style and interests. Perhaps he was commissioned for his fine work in the painting of Herakles. Certainly, the images are tenderly rendered with exquisite detail.
There are six bilingual vases in the Beazley Archives attributed to both Andokides P and Lysippides P. Many archeologists have debated the validity of the bilingual vase, suggesting that one painted both styles. However Cohen, with the assistance of other such as Mary B Moore, points out some general differences that distinguish the two styles. For instance, they claim that the Andokides painter uses larger more lifelike images and with less detail. The Lysippides painter is suggested to be more old fashioned, painting with clear influence of his teacher Ezekias.
While Cohen and Moore seem to consider the newly discovered technique to be more advanced and lifelike that the older black-figure style, there is something to be said for the detail and care that is clear from the stylized black-figure that adds a dimension that the red-figure is lacking. Of course, because red-figure painting was new its distinct style may not have evolved to the stage that black-figure had the chance to in their longer history.
Classical Athens
The city of Athens during the classical period of Ancient Greece was a notable polis of Attica, Greece, leading the Delian League in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta and the Peloponnesian League. Athenian democracy was established in 508 BC under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias...
in the second half of the 6th century BC. He was a black-figure
Black-figure pottery
Black-figure pottery painting, also known as the black-figure style or black-figure ceramic is one of the most modern styles for adorning antique Greek vases. It was especially common between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, although there are specimens dating as late as the 2nd century BC...
painter of a classic style. He most probably trained with Ezekias in his workshop until moving to the Andokides
Andokides
Andokides was a famous potter of Ancient Greece. The painter of his pots was an anonymous artist, the Andokides painter, who is recognized as the creater of the red-figure style, beginning around 530 BC. His work is compared with Exekias, who was said to have created the most detailed and best...
workshop where he mainly painted large, expensive vases and did some work on bilingual vases with Andokides P being the red-figure
Red-figure pottery
Red-figure vase painting is one of the most important styles of figural Greek vase painting. It developed in Athens around 530 BC and remained in use until the late 3rd century BC. It replaced the previously dominant style of Black-figure vase painting within a few decades...
painter. He was named, after much debate ensuring he was not the Andokides Painter using red-figure, after a Kalos found on one of his vases.
Amphorae
Cups
There are also 32 cups consisting of Cup A and Little Master Band Variations. These are large cups, and many hold the face of a gorgonGorgon
In Greek mythology, the Gorgon was a terrifying female creature. The name derives from the Greek word gorgós, which means "dreadful." While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a...
ian in the basin. These Gorgonians are typical of the Nikostenes workshop which it is believed Lysippides was lent to on occasion.
Other Shapes
Some of the other shapes that Lysippides works with are Krater, Columns, Oinchoes, Psykters, and Pyxis. These shapes have very small numbers, but many of them carry the same subjects as those of other Lysippides vases.Provenance
Most of these vases appear to have been traded to Italy, especially the area around Rome, Etruria. Of the 85 vases that have listed provenances, 74 were shipped to Italy and over of 50 of these to the Etruria region. The other provenances include Sicily, Egypt and Turkey, but they appear in nominal numbers.Subjects
Herakles is clearly the favorite subject of the Lysippides Painter. IT is also a favorite of most Group E vase-painters. Of the 204 vases in the Beazley Archive there are over 60 of Herakles in various forms of heroism, fighting the lion, mounting chariots with AthenaAthena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, fighting Amazons (Amazonomachy), and fighting giants (Giantomachy). He is almost always shown in his lion cape, with hood resting on the back of his black hair, defined with white paint. The arms of the lion are tied around his chest (where muscles are also well defined with white lines).
Warriors and fights are equally important in Lysippides' vases. Some show warriors fighting over a fallen soldier, others show battles. Almost all soldiers have Boeotia
Boeotia
Boeotia, also spelled Beotia and Bœotia , is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. It was also a region of ancient Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, the second largest city being Thebes.-Geography:...
on shields and spears, many with Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ian helmets. They are typical of ancient Greek vases, and show glory, arête and honor, all values held high by the Greeks.
Other subjects include Amazonomachys, Giantomachys and scene with Dionysos, often surrounded by the double-leafed vine.
While the shape of the vase is mostly considered to be chosen by the workshop, the subject could very well have been the decision of the artist himself. While these subjects chosen are typical of many Greek vases the prevalence of Herakles in Lysippides vases is certainly significant of both his style and interests. Perhaps he was commissioned for his fine work in the painting of Herakles. Certainly, the images are tenderly rendered with exquisite detail.
Lysippides and Andokides
It is very probable that Lysippides painter worked mostly in the Andokides workshop. The Andokides workshop was known for it more high quality pieces and Lysippides was a highly skilled black-figure painter of the time. One of the styles that came from the Andokides workshop was the bilingual vase. Beth Cohen, in 'Colors of Clay' suggests that Andokides was one of the first red-figure painters and suggests that he may have even been an inventor of the style. While creating bilingual vases with different black-figure painters, such as Lysippides, Andokides would paint one side of the vase in red-figure and another painter would paint the other in black-figure. In the case of cups, often the red-figure painter would paint the inside and the black-figure painter would paint the outside.There are six bilingual vases in the Beazley Archives attributed to both Andokides P and Lysippides P. Many archeologists have debated the validity of the bilingual vase, suggesting that one painted both styles. However Cohen, with the assistance of other such as Mary B Moore, points out some general differences that distinguish the two styles. For instance, they claim that the Andokides painter uses larger more lifelike images and with less detail. The Lysippides painter is suggested to be more old fashioned, painting with clear influence of his teacher Ezekias.
While Cohen and Moore seem to consider the newly discovered technique to be more advanced and lifelike that the older black-figure style, there is something to be said for the detail and care that is clear from the stylized black-figure that adds a dimension that the red-figure is lacking. Of course, because red-figure painting was new its distinct style may not have evolved to the stage that black-figure had the chance to in their longer history.