[Image not available]
| Collection: | London, British Museum |
| Summary: | Side A: Young warrior and his horse in a naiskos, with male and female offering bearers around Side B: Visitors to a tomb |
| Ware: | Apulian Red Figure |
| Painter: | Attributed to the Baltimore Painter |
| Attributed By: | A.D. Trendall |
| Date: | ca. 325 BC - ca. 300 BC |
| Dimensions: | H 0.89 m |
| Shape: | Volute krater |
| Period: | Late Classical/Early Hellenistic |
Decoration Description:
Side A: In the center of the composition is a naiskos with two Ionic columns, a timbered ceiling, and pedimented roof. It stands on a base decorated with scrollwork. Inside the naiskos stands the statue of a nude young man, wearing a cloak around his shoulders. He stands before his horse, which is in profile to the left, holding a wreath with his right hand, and a spear in his left hand; he rests his left elbow on the horse's back, above which is a cuirass. Outside of the naiskos, to the left, sits a youth wearing a pilos and fillet, with a pear and shield. Near him stands a woman, bending forward, holding a mirror and a wreath. To the upper right of the naiskos, a nude youth sits. He holds two phialae in his right hand, a branch in his left, and he wears a wreath. He is sitting to the left, on top of a cloak. Below him a woman stands to the left, holding a situla in her right hand and an oinochoe in her left. On the neck of the vessel is a female head in three-quarter view to the right, surrounded by scrolls and flowers.
Side B: People are bringing offerings to a grave. A large stele tied with a red fillet is in the middle of the composition. It is set on a base decorated with scrollwork. On either side, in the upper left and right, sits a nude youth to the left. They both wear fillets in their hair, and are seated on their mantles. The youth on the left holds up a large box in his right hand, and a wreath in his left. The youth on the right also holds a box in his right hand, but a situla in the other. Below each is a woman wearing a sleeveless chiton, with her hair bound up in a bun. The woman on the left wears earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. She holds a tympanum and a bunch of grapes. The woman on the right holds a basket and ivy wreath.
The mascaroons are decorated with female heads which have white curly hair and skin on Side A, and dark hair and skin on Side B. Around the shoulder of the vessel is a radiate band pattern, under which is a band of egg-and-dart. Below the figural scene is a meander band. Under the handles are palmettes.
The style of the Lycurgus Painter is closely associated with the Underworld Painter, especially in the treatment of draped women and the rendering of faces. The pattern work (especially the flowers and scrolls on the neck) are more like those of the Patera and Ganymede Painters (Schmidt, 54).
Collection History:
Hamilton Collection
Sources Used:
Grabmäler auf unteritalischen Vasen (Berlin 1979) 214, no. A339, pl. 20, 2Eine Gruppe apulischer Grabvasen in Basel (Basel 1976) 54-57
Other Bibliography: