DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0082
lxxxii VASES.—THE GREEK STYLE. [introduction.
The third class of vases is justly denominated Gbeek, as it
partakes of the hest art of that wonderful people. These vases
are pre-eminent in elegance of form, in fineness of material and
brilliancy of varnish, and in exquisite beauty of design, divested
of that archaic severity and conventionality which distinguish
the earlier styles. In this class the ground is always painted
black, the figures being left of the natural reddish yellow of the
clay.2 The subjects are very similar to those of the second
class, with the exception of the Panathenaic scenes; those of
Bacchic character are also of less frequent occurrence, the pre-
dominating subjects being Greek myths, or representations of
Greek manners. Little or nothing is to be learned from any of
these painted vases of the customs, habits, traditions, or creed
of the Etruscans;—with very few exceptions all are purely
Greek.
No one can casually view the best works of this style without
delight; and a more intimate acquaintance with them begets in
the man of taste an unbounded admiration. They are the
originals, in style at least, I say not in conception, of Flaxman's
glorious outlines, and well would it be for the student of art to
follow that master's example, and imbue his mind deeply with
their various excellencies. The dignity of the conception and
force of expression, not unfrequently rising into the sublime,
the purity and chasteness of taste, the truth and simplicity of
the design, the delicacy of the execution, well entitle the best
vases of this style to the appellation of "Perfect."3 Rarely,
contests from Athens," instead of • one and are to be distinguished from the
of the prizes from Athens," as is usually Panathenaic, or those given at the
done. Bull. Inst. 1843, p. 75. Instead solemn public games, which had in-
of the cocks on the columns, there are variably black figures on a yellow
sometimes owls, panthers, or vases. ground. Vases of this third style with
2 The forms with which this style is coloured figures on a white ground, like
associated are generally the amphora, the Silenus-craier in the Gregorian Ma-
the calpis, an elegant variety of the seum (vol. II. p. 497), are very rare in
water-jar, the crater, or mixing-vase, Etruria, though not uncommon in Greece
the olpe, or jug, the cylioc or drinking- and her colonies ; beautiful specimens
bowl, and the Ucythus, or cruet. It of them are among the Athenian lecytki
is for vases of this style that Nola is in the British Museum,
particularly renowned. These vases 3 This is the name given them by
were often given as nuptial presents, Gerhard, Ann. Inst. 1831, p. 24.
or as prizes at the palsestrie games ;
The third class of vases is justly denominated Gbeek, as it
partakes of the hest art of that wonderful people. These vases
are pre-eminent in elegance of form, in fineness of material and
brilliancy of varnish, and in exquisite beauty of design, divested
of that archaic severity and conventionality which distinguish
the earlier styles. In this class the ground is always painted
black, the figures being left of the natural reddish yellow of the
clay.2 The subjects are very similar to those of the second
class, with the exception of the Panathenaic scenes; those of
Bacchic character are also of less frequent occurrence, the pre-
dominating subjects being Greek myths, or representations of
Greek manners. Little or nothing is to be learned from any of
these painted vases of the customs, habits, traditions, or creed
of the Etruscans;—with very few exceptions all are purely
Greek.
No one can casually view the best works of this style without
delight; and a more intimate acquaintance with them begets in
the man of taste an unbounded admiration. They are the
originals, in style at least, I say not in conception, of Flaxman's
glorious outlines, and well would it be for the student of art to
follow that master's example, and imbue his mind deeply with
their various excellencies. The dignity of the conception and
force of expression, not unfrequently rising into the sublime,
the purity and chasteness of taste, the truth and simplicity of
the design, the delicacy of the execution, well entitle the best
vases of this style to the appellation of "Perfect."3 Rarely,
contests from Athens," instead of • one and are to be distinguished from the
of the prizes from Athens," as is usually Panathenaic, or those given at the
done. Bull. Inst. 1843, p. 75. Instead solemn public games, which had in-
of the cocks on the columns, there are variably black figures on a yellow
sometimes owls, panthers, or vases. ground. Vases of this third style with
2 The forms with which this style is coloured figures on a white ground, like
associated are generally the amphora, the Silenus-craier in the Gregorian Ma-
the calpis, an elegant variety of the seum (vol. II. p. 497), are very rare in
water-jar, the crater, or mixing-vase, Etruria, though not uncommon in Greece
the olpe, or jug, the cylioc or drinking- and her colonies ; beautiful specimens
bowl, and the Ucythus, or cruet. It of them are among the Athenian lecytki
is for vases of this style that Nola is in the British Museum,
particularly renowned. These vases 3 This is the name given them by
were often given as nuptial presents, Gerhard, Ann. Inst. 1831, p. 24.
or as prizes at the palsestrie games ;