C Painter
Encyclopedia
The C Painter was one of the most important Attic
black-figure vase painters. His works date to circa 575-550 BC.
His conventional name was allocated by the archaeologist John Beazley
. The C stands for "Corinthianising", a reference to the strong influence of Corinthian vase painting on the artist. He was successor to the Comast Group
and used the relatively old-fashioned range of vessel shapes preferred by that group, including '’lekanis’’, tripod kothon and skyphos
. In contrast, he also painted quite innovative lekythoi
with pronounced shoulders, although the more conservative Deinaeira type was still in use by some workshops at his time. The C Painter was the first Attic vase painter to paint cups without an offset lip, the Merrythought cup
.
As indicated by his conventional name, the C Painter followed Corinthian precedents. He painted duelling warriors, horsemen, symposiasts, and komasts
. He followed the Corinthian habit of adding white paint for details, but used the Attic technique of doing so: the white paint was added onto the black slip
, rather than directly to the base clay. Hy mythological images represent a departure from Corinthian precedents. He painted them in elongated friezes, resembling the work of the Gorgon Painter
or Kleitias
. His powerful figures are carefully painted, often with a somewhat enlarged head. A characteristic feature of his work are animal heads used as shield emblazonments.
Especially important is his work as a painter of Siana cup
s. He is considered the earliest and best painter of that shape. Probably towards the end of his career, his workshop produced cups resembling the later lip cup
s. His most fanour work is the lid of a lekanis, now on display in Naples
. It bears the earliest known depiction of the death of Astyanax
. One vase by the C painter bears the remainder of an inscription: …eiron epoie (..eiron made it), suggesting that his real name was Cheiron or Pheiron.
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...
black-figure vase painters. His works date to circa 575-550 BC.
His conventional name was allocated by the archaeologist John Beazley
John Beazley
Sir John Davidson Beazley was an English classical scholar.Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Beazley attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he was a close friend of the poet James Elroy Flecker. After graduating in 1907, Beazley was a student and tutor in Classics at Christ Church, and in 1925 he...
. The C stands for "Corinthianising", a reference to the strong influence of Corinthian vase painting on the artist. He was successor to the Comast Group
Comast Group
The Comast Group was a group of Attic vase painters in the black-figure style. The works of ist members are dated to between 585 and 570/560 BC....
and used the relatively old-fashioned range of vessel shapes preferred by that group, including '’lekanis’’, tripod kothon and skyphos
Skyphos
In classifying the pottery of Ancient Greece, a skyphos is a two-handled deep wine-cup on a low flanged base or none. The handles may be horizontal ear-shaped thumbholds that project from the rim , or they may be loop handles at the rim or that stand away from the lower part of the body...
. In contrast, he also painted quite innovative lekythoi
Lekythos
A lekythos is a type of Greek pottery used for storing oil , especially olive oil. It has a narrow body and one handle attached to the neck of the vessel. The lekythos was used for anointing dead bodies of unmarried men and many lekythoi are found in tombs. The images on lekythoi were often...
with pronounced shoulders, although the more conservative Deinaeira type was still in use by some workshops at his time. The C Painter was the first Attic vase painter to paint cups without an offset lip, the Merrythought cup
Merrythought Cup
The term Merrythought Cup is used by scholars to describe a specific type of Attic kylix.The Merrythought cup probably developed as a refined form of a rural cup type normally made of wood. The shape features several peculiarities. It is the first Attic cup shape that lacks a distinctive break...
.
As indicated by his conventional name, the C Painter followed Corinthian precedents. He painted duelling warriors, horsemen, symposiasts, and komasts
Komos
The Komos was a ritualistic drunken procession performed by revelers in ancient Greece, whose participants were known as komasts. Its precise nature has been difficult to reconstruct from the diverse literary sources and evidence derived from vase painting....
. He followed the Corinthian habit of adding white paint for details, but used the Attic technique of doing so: the white paint was added onto the black slip
Slip (ceramics)
A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the production of ceramic ware. Deflocculant, such as sodium silicate, can be added to the slip to disperse the raw material particles...
, rather than directly to the base clay. Hy mythological images represent a departure from Corinthian precedents. He painted them in elongated friezes, resembling the work of the Gorgon Painter
Gorgon Painter
The Gorgon Painter was one of the first Attic black-figure vase painters. He was active between 600 and 580 BC.The Gorgon Painter is considered as the very productive successor of the Nessos Painter, whose fanciful style ha adopted, adapted and organised. His conventional name is based on his name...
or Kleitias
Kleitias
Kleitias was an ancient Athenian vase painter of the black figure style who flourished c. 570–560 BCE. Kleitias' most celebrated work today is the François Vase , which bears over two hundred figures in its six friezes...
. His powerful figures are carefully painted, often with a somewhat enlarged head. A characteristic feature of his work are animal heads used as shield emblazonments.
Especially important is his work as a painter of Siana cup
Siana Cup
The term Siana cups describes a type of Attic cups decorated in the black-figure technique. They are named after one of their find locations, the necropolis of the ancient city of Siana on Rhodes. During the second quarter of the 6th century BC, Siana cups were the predominant cup shape in Athens...
s. He is considered the earliest and best painter of that shape. Probably towards the end of his career, his workshop produced cups resembling the later lip cup
Lip Cup
Lip cups are a type of ancient Greek Attic Little-master cups.Lip cups were produced since the middle of the sixth centre BC in Athens. They resemble Gordion cups, but their lip or rim was more clearly distinguished from the rest of the body. They had high feet on broad bases...
s. His most fanour work is the lid of a lekanis, now on display in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. It bears the earliest known depiction of the death of Astyanax
Astyanax
In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe. His birth name was Scamandrius , but the people of Troy nicknamed him Astyanax In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of...
. One vase by the C painter bears the remainder of an inscription: …eiron epoie (..eiron made it), suggesting that his real name was Cheiron or Pheiron.