DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0030
IO EARLY PROTOCORINTHIAN VASE-PAINTING
show no trace of the characteristic oriental patterns of lotus-flowers, buds,
and palmettes, linked by semicircles, which we find elsewhere at this period;
the early Protocorinthian patterns are, indeed, more purely Hellenic than
those of any contemporary school.
The Second Orientalizing Style
The latest of the early archaic vases, those illustrated by Johansen on pis.
21-3, cannot be later than the first quarter of the seventh century. In the
succeeding period1 the black-figure style makes extraordinary progress. We
see no more of the rather awkward, ill-balanced figures which are common in
the earlier vases: the liveliness of the first style is there, but the figures have
a substance and solidity which are altogether new. Large vases, like those
illustrated in our pis. 4-7, show most clearly how the figures are still con-
Fig. 5. Protocorinthian aryballos from the Argive Heraeum.
structed from abstract conceptions, with an astonishing sense of the expres-
sive power of simple, sweeping curves. But if we look closely at the smaller
vases we shall see that these bear witness to exactly the same notions of form.
In pi. 3, nos. 1-2, are illustrated two small ovoid aryballoi in the British
Museum;2 these vases obviously form the direct continuation of the style
which we see in Johansen pi. 21, but the figures are neater and better propor-
tioned, and the shape is refined. The complex floral ornaments are another
new feature. The earliest archaic aryballoi have comparatively simple
shoulder patterns, or none at all. The elaborate chains of lotus-flowers and
palmettes shown in pi. 3 are typical of the developed archaic style; many
other Protocorinthian vases of this period have patterns that are equally
exquisite. We shall not find another group with the same perfection of floral
decoration until we reach the early red-figure period. In fig. 5 we have a
drawing of a fragmentary aryballos from the Argive Heraeum.3 Johansen
does not mention it, and as the previous publication is not altogether satis-
1 Johansen's Style B. photograph of the other, Johansen pi. 28, 3.
2 A drawing of the first which is unsatisfactory 3 A.H. ii, pi. 65, 3. Not a 'one-handled jug', but
in several ways is given in Johansen pi. 27, 2; a an aryballos. Greenish buff clay, finely polished.
show no trace of the characteristic oriental patterns of lotus-flowers, buds,
and palmettes, linked by semicircles, which we find elsewhere at this period;
the early Protocorinthian patterns are, indeed, more purely Hellenic than
those of any contemporary school.
The Second Orientalizing Style
The latest of the early archaic vases, those illustrated by Johansen on pis.
21-3, cannot be later than the first quarter of the seventh century. In the
succeeding period1 the black-figure style makes extraordinary progress. We
see no more of the rather awkward, ill-balanced figures which are common in
the earlier vases: the liveliness of the first style is there, but the figures have
a substance and solidity which are altogether new. Large vases, like those
illustrated in our pis. 4-7, show most clearly how the figures are still con-
Fig. 5. Protocorinthian aryballos from the Argive Heraeum.
structed from abstract conceptions, with an astonishing sense of the expres-
sive power of simple, sweeping curves. But if we look closely at the smaller
vases we shall see that these bear witness to exactly the same notions of form.
In pi. 3, nos. 1-2, are illustrated two small ovoid aryballoi in the British
Museum;2 these vases obviously form the direct continuation of the style
which we see in Johansen pi. 21, but the figures are neater and better propor-
tioned, and the shape is refined. The complex floral ornaments are another
new feature. The earliest archaic aryballoi have comparatively simple
shoulder patterns, or none at all. The elaborate chains of lotus-flowers and
palmettes shown in pi. 3 are typical of the developed archaic style; many
other Protocorinthian vases of this period have patterns that are equally
exquisite. We shall not find another group with the same perfection of floral
decoration until we reach the early red-figure period. In fig. 5 we have a
drawing of a fragmentary aryballos from the Argive Heraeum.3 Johansen
does not mention it, and as the previous publication is not altogether satis-
1 Johansen's Style B. photograph of the other, Johansen pi. 28, 3.
2 A drawing of the first which is unsatisfactory 3 A.H. ii, pi. 65, 3. Not a 'one-handled jug', but
in several ways is given in Johansen pi. 27, 2; a an aryballos. Greenish buff clay, finely polished.