Marsyas Painter
Encyclopedia
The Marsyas Painter was an ancient Greek
vase painter of the red-figure
style. He was active in Attica
between 370 and 340/330 BC. The Marsyas Painter is sometimes considered the best of the Attic red-figure painters of the late 4th-century Kerch Style
. His conventional name is derived from the depiction of Marsyas
on a pelike
, now on display at the Eremitage, St. Petersburg. So far, 23 works have been attributed to him. These include mostly larger vessels, such as lebetes gamikoi
, pelikes, hydria
i and lekanes. Recently, ten Panathenaic Amphorae
have been identified as his work, substantially improving our knowledge of his development. He painted scenes from the life of women and other aspects of everyday life, as well as mythological themes. His figures are harmonic in spite of their monumentality; his drawing style indicates great skill. He is a master of spatial perspective, using foreshortening and reduction
to great effect. Textiles and garments are depicted in great detail and appear voluminous. His masterpiece and name vase
, the St. Petersburg lebes gamikos, was found at Kerch
. It depicts the epaúlia, the celebration dedicated to a newly-married wife. A pelike with Peleus
and Thetis
by him (now at the British Museum
) shows one of the best nudes known from Greek vase painting; it may be viewed online. He used additional colours like red and gold sparingly. Recently, some scholars equate him with the Eleusinian Painter.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
vase painter of 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...
style. He was active in Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
between 370 and 340/330 BC. The Marsyas Painter is sometimes considered the best of the Attic red-figure painters of the late 4th-century Kerch Style
Kerch Style
.The Kerch style is an archaeological term describing vases from the final phase of Attic red-figure pottery production. Their exact chronology remains problematic, but they are generally assumed to have been produced roughly between 375 and 330/20 BC...
. His conventional name is derived from the depiction of Marsyas
Marsyas
In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double flute that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music and lost his hide and life...
on a pelike
Pelike
A pelike is a one-piece ceramic container similar to an amphora.It has two open handles that are vertical on their lateral aspects and even at the side with the edge of the belly, a narrow neck, a flanged mouth, and a sagging, almost spherical belly....
, now on display at the Eremitage, St. Petersburg. So far, 23 works have been attributed to him. These include mostly larger vessels, such as lebetes gamikoi
Lebes Gamikos
The lebes gamikos, or "nuptial lebes," is a form of ancient Greek Pottery used in marriage ceremonies . It was probably used in the ritual sprinkling of the bride with water before the wedding. In form, it has a large bowl-like body and a stand that can be long or short...
, pelikes, hydria
Hydria
A hydria is a type of Greek pottery used for carrying water. The hydria has three handles. Two horizontal handles on either side of the body of the pot were used for lifting and carrying the pot. The third handle, a vertical one, located in the center of the other two handles, was used when...
i and lekanes. Recently, ten Panathenaic Amphorae
Panathenaic Amphorae
Panathenaic amphorae were the large ceramic vessels that contained the oil given as prizes in the Panathenaic Games...
have been identified as his work, substantially improving our knowledge of his development. He painted scenes from the life of women and other aspects of everyday life, as well as mythological themes. His figures are harmonic in spite of their monumentality; his drawing style indicates great skill. He is a master of spatial perspective, using foreshortening and reduction
Reduction
Reduction, reduced, or reduce may refer to:- Chemistry :* Reduction, part of a reduction-oxidation reaction where oxygen is being removed from a compound.** Reduced gas, a gas with a low oxidation number...
to great effect. Textiles and garments are depicted in great detail and appear voluminous. His masterpiece and name vase
Name vase
In classical archaeology, a name vase is a specific "vase" whose painter's name is unknown but whose workshop style has been identified. The painter is conventionally named after the selected "name vase" that embodies his characteristic style, or for one of its distinctive painted subjects, or for...
, the St. Petersburg lebes gamikos, was found at Kerch
Kerch
Kerch is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.-Ancient times:...
. It depicts the epaúlia, the celebration dedicated to a newly-married wife. A pelike with Peleus
Peleus
In Greek mythology, Pēleus was a hero whose myth was already known to the hearers of Homer in the late 8th century BCE. Peleus was the son of Aeacus, king of the island of Aegina, and Endeïs, the oread of Mount Pelion in Thessaly; he was the father of Achilles...
and Thetis
Thetis
Silver-footed Thetis , disposer or "placer" , is encountered in Greek mythology mostly as a sea nymph or known as the goddess of water, one of the fifty Nereids, daughters of the ancient one of the seas with shape-shifting abilities who survives in the historical vestiges of most later Greek myths...
by him (now at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
) shows one of the best nudes known from Greek vase painting; it may be viewed online. He used additional colours like red and gold sparingly. Recently, some scholars equate him with the Eleusinian Painter.