Comast Group
Encyclopedia
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.
The artists of the Komast Group are seen as the successors of the Gorgon Painter
. Its most important representatives were the KX Painter
and the slightly later KY Painter
. They painted vases shapes that had been newly introduced to Athens
or that had not previously been painted. Especially commonly painted by them were '’kothon’’ and lekanis. From Corinth
, then still the centre of Greek vase painting, they adopted the Komast cup
and the skyphos
(known as kotyle. The KY Painter introduced the column krater. Also popular at the time was the kantharos
. The group adopted the Corinthian habit of depicting komasts
, after which the group is named. It provided the group’s most commonly painted motif. The komast scenes permit Attic artists for the first time to reach the artistic levels of middle-ranking Corinthian vases. While the older KX Painter still mostly painted animals and only the occasional komast scene, the komos became a standard motif for the KY painter and further inferior successors. It is not clear to what extent the painters of the group really cooperated. It is possible that they all worked in the same workshop. The group influenced later Attic vase painters, including the Heidelberg Painter
.
Works by the Komast Group were not only found in Attica, but appear to have been exported widely. Vases and fragments have been found at many sites, including Naukratis, Rhodes
, Central Italy
, Taras
, and even Corinth
.
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...
vase painters in the black-figure style
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...
. The works of ist members are dated to between 585 and 570/560 BC.
The artists of the Komast Group are seen as the successors 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...
. Its most important representatives were the KX Painter
KX Painter
The KX Painter was an Attic black-figure vase painter. He was active between 585 and 570 BC.thumb|A tripod [[exaleiptron]] by the KX Paibter, circa 580/570 BC, found in [[Aegina]]; now [[Louvre]] CA 927....
and the slightly later KY Painter
KY Painter
The KY Painter was an Attic black-figure vase painter. He was active between 585 and 570 BC.Besides the KX Painter, the KY Painter was the main representative of the Komast Group, which succeeded the Gorgon Painter. His conventional name was allocated by John Beazley. He is considered the less...
. They painted vases shapes that had been newly introduced to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
or that had not previously been painted. Especially commonly painted by them were '’kothon’’ and lekanis. From 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...
, then still the centre of Greek vase painting, they adopted the Komast cup
Komast Cup
The Komast cup is a cup shape at the beginning of the development of Attic drinking cups.Drinking cups were introduced to Greece from Levantine predecessors. Komast cups were a development of such Levantine cups, which were widespread especially in Ionia and Corinth...
and the 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...
(known as kotyle. The KY Painter introduced the column krater. Also popular at the time was the kantharos
Kantharos
A kantharos or cantharus is a type of Greek pottery used for drinking. It is characterized by its high swung handles which extend above the lip of the pot.The god Dionysus had a kantharos which was never empty....
. The group adopted the Corinthian habit of depicting 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....
, after which the group is named. It provided the group’s most commonly painted motif. The komast scenes permit Attic artists for the first time to reach the artistic levels of middle-ranking Corinthian vases. While the older KX Painter still mostly painted animals and only the occasional komast scene, the komos became a standard motif for the KY painter and further inferior successors. It is not clear to what extent the painters of the group really cooperated. It is possible that they all worked in the same workshop. The group influenced later Attic vase painters, including the Heidelberg Painter
Heidelberg Painter
The Heidelberg Painter was an Attic vase painter of the black-figure style, active between about 575 and 555 BC. He is considered one of the most important painter of Siana cups....
.
Works by the Komast Group were not only found in Attica, but appear to have been exported widely. Vases and fragments have been found at many sites, including Naukratis, Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, Central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Taras
Taras
Taras may mean:* Taras, ancient city of Magna Graecia, modern Taranto.* Taraš, a village in Vojvodina, Serbia.* Taras , the son of Poseidon and of the nymph Satyrion....
, and even 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...
.