The Amasis Painter Ovoid lekythos – Wedding Procession White text: p.34-35 Black text: p.33-35

Shape: Ovoid lekythos Function: Used to hold oil, funeral offerings Painter: Amasis Painter Potter: Amasis Technique: black figure Date: c.550 B.C

Shape: Ovoid lekythos

Function: Used to hold oil, funeral offerings

Painter: Amasis Painter

Potter: Amasis

Technique: black figure

Date: c.550 B.C

Dimensions Height: 17cm

Lower Frieze – subject matter

This vase shows a wedding procession, and the narrative runs right-left See Black text p.34 for whole lower frieze

The procession is heading towards a house, where the door is wide open. The groom’s mother is inside. She carries a torch to welcome the happy couple. A woman leads the procession, carrying two torches to light the way

The newlyweds (plus another man) ride on the first carriage. The bride holds what may be a ritual crown, and holds out her veil with her left hand The second carriage carries four men (probably relatives of the bride, accompanying her to the new house) Each carriage is escorted by two women and one man

Upper Frieze – subject matter Two seated men play musical instruments – on this side a lyre, and on the other side a flute As musicians play, nine young girls dance stiffly around the vase – probably part of the wedding festivities shown in the lower frieze

Painting Technique Detail is incised through the black slip, especially on the mules and the men’s beards Lots of white slip has been used: women’s flesh, carriages, the Doric columns on the house

Drapery All figures wear clothes that are flat and foldless. Detailing is shown on the cloth, but no attempt to show depth. Women wear the peplos The men wear the himation and the chiton, except the groom. The groom does not have a chiton, and therefore his right shoulder is bare.

Style and Technique Superior to other Lekythos in artistry Details more precise and realistic Sense of motion and direction All figures in profile Varied poses to create sense of movement Upper frieze sits more easily on shoulder and has some relationship with main frieze Depth - one figure placed behind the other – women behind mule Amasis painter not as advanced in use of anatomy to convey mood and movement Simple clear outlines, no internal anatomy Draper flat, folds indicated by widely separated lines No sugestion of figures being 3D

Superior to other Lekythos in artistry

Details more precise and realistic

Sense of motion and direction

All figures in profile

Varied poses to create sense of movement

Upper frieze sits more easily on shoulder and has some relationship with main frieze

Depth - one figure placed behind the other – women behind mule

Amasis painter not as advanced in use of anatomy to convey mood and movement

Simple clear outlines, no internal anatomy

Draper flat, folds indicated by widely separated lines

No sugestion of figures being 3D