Niobid Painter Calyx Krater

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterFact Scan:Date:Type:Technique:Potter:Painter:Height:Subject:455-450BCCalyx Krater (Mixing wine and water at the symposium)Red Figure (the figures are red!)UnknownNiobid Painter (this is the “name vase” of this painter!)54 cmUnknown – Herakles and AthenaSlaughter of the Niobids.

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterSide AThe narrative on this side ofthe vase is unknownTwo characters only can hepositively identifiedHerakles – HOW?Athena – HOW?The other characters areclearly heroes – HOW do weknow?

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterSIDE A – 4 possible interpretations• The Argonauts at LemnosExpiation by Argonautsafter killing KingKyzilosSuccessful Greeks afterthe battle of MarathonHerakles rescuingTheseus from theUnderworld

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterSide BThe killing of the childrenof NiobeArtemis taking an arrowfrom her quiverApollo shooting an arrowAssorted dead people –some partly obscured by rockCheck out the tree – it’slandscape (something rare,but not unique in vasepainting)

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterCompositionNot linearGroupings of charactersCompositional unityestablished by gaze andgestureVariable ground line anattempt on indicate adepth of fieldRocks (no longer easilyvisible) an attempt togive volume to field ofthe frieze.

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterCompositionBordered above andbelow by stylized eggsOutside of thesepalmettes separated bylotus flowers and volutetendrilsHandles surrounded bystylised tongues.

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterCompositionNot linearCompositional unityestablished by gaze andgestureVariable ground line anattempt on indicate adepth of fieldRocks (no longer easilyvisible) an attempt togive volume to field ofthe frieze.

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterDraperyIrregularity of foldsTexture added by relief lineSome revelation of anatomy bydraperyCatenary folds similar to sculptureSubtle attempt at billowing around thewaist

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterRelationship to wallpaintingUndulating groundlineStatuesque posesGaze and gesture to establishcompositional unity

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterAnatomy and DepthProfile eye for the first timeMuscles “hyper” realCombination of relief line and dilute slipContrapostal pose (hip lower) – but not reallyseen in shoulder: relationship to sculptureForeshortened feetOverlapping

Niobid Painter CalyxKraterKey featuresInnovative featuresLandscapeUndulating ground lineProfile eyeNarrative techniquesCompositionRelationship to wall painting