DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0079
THE MIDDLE AND LATE CORINTHIAN ORIENTALIZING STYLES 59
The orientalizing decoration of these red-ground vases falls naturally into
two groups. In the first group we have ordinary black-figure work ; in the
second, outline drawing. The latter need not concern us for the moment;
it is a new development, confined to the red-ground vases, and will throw no
light on the history of the later style as a whole. Examples of the black-
figured decoration are shown on pis. 36, 1,4; 37, 3, 5-7. It is obvious, is it
not, that we have a style which is very different from that which is here de-
fined as early Corinthian. The figures are now all of very slender proportions,
and most of them are very negligently drawn; compare, for instance, the
sphinxes, panthers, goats, and lions of the plates just quoted with the corre-
sponding early Corinthian types. But there is little need to enter into details.
There are also certain minor differences of technique1 which are unimpor-
tant beside the general change in the conception of form. Further, let us
note that the subject-matter of this style is exceedingly limited; a few types,
part of a dwindling inheritance from the early Corinthian period, are re-
peated with almost unrelieved monotony.
Lest it should be thought that this style is found only in the subsidiary
decoration of vases with elaborate figure scenes, let me recall that we find it
on amphorae, lekythoi, &c, which have no other decoration; and that earlier
craters with figure scenes have subsidiary decoration in a totally different
style (cf. pi. 26,8-9). Finally, that we meet the same style on the small vases
which were put into graves in the second quarter of the sixth century (cf. pi. 36).
From the middle of the sixth century onwards, Attic vases were regularly
imported into the districts which had previously been supplied almost exclu-
sively by Corinth. Attic vases were, of course, widely exported from the
early sixth century onwards, but chiefly to Rhodes, Naukratis, and Etruria;
and it happens that we have no useful records of the contexts in which these
earlier exports were found. But when they appear in quantity in the Boeotian
and Sicilian cemeteries of the middle of the century, Attic vases are frequently
found in the same graves as Corinthian, and they consequently enable us to
form a definite picture of the Corinthian style in this period.2
One fact emerges clearly at once: by the middle of the century the
orientalizing style had practically disappeared. The Corinthian industry
1 Notably the use of white for stripes on the wing fig. 189; fig. 190 is also Attic, perhaps rather later
coverts, for broad surfaces (necks of cocks, &c), and than fig. 189. The subject of this fragment,
the practice of engraving on a white surface. which has given some trouble (cf. Orsi loc. cit. and
2 Attic vases were probably imported into Boeotia Pfuhl i, 219 note 1), is a boar hunt: hind part of boar
continuously from the geometric period onwards, to 1.; on the right, white dog springing at the boar,
but not in quantity; they are conspicuously absent partially drawn across the black surface of the boar's
from all the earlier Corinthian graves at Rhitsona. body. Fig. 191 is Corinthian (cat. no. 1468); cf. Pfuhl
Among the earliest Attic vases from S. Italy and loc. cit. who, however, takes fig. 189 for Corinthian
Sicily are the cups nos. 9,15-19 mentioned on p. 194, also. It is made of red clay and is certainly Attic,
and the fragment from Gela, Mon. Ant. xvii, 251
The orientalizing decoration of these red-ground vases falls naturally into
two groups. In the first group we have ordinary black-figure work ; in the
second, outline drawing. The latter need not concern us for the moment;
it is a new development, confined to the red-ground vases, and will throw no
light on the history of the later style as a whole. Examples of the black-
figured decoration are shown on pis. 36, 1,4; 37, 3, 5-7. It is obvious, is it
not, that we have a style which is very different from that which is here de-
fined as early Corinthian. The figures are now all of very slender proportions,
and most of them are very negligently drawn; compare, for instance, the
sphinxes, panthers, goats, and lions of the plates just quoted with the corre-
sponding early Corinthian types. But there is little need to enter into details.
There are also certain minor differences of technique1 which are unimpor-
tant beside the general change in the conception of form. Further, let us
note that the subject-matter of this style is exceedingly limited; a few types,
part of a dwindling inheritance from the early Corinthian period, are re-
peated with almost unrelieved monotony.
Lest it should be thought that this style is found only in the subsidiary
decoration of vases with elaborate figure scenes, let me recall that we find it
on amphorae, lekythoi, &c, which have no other decoration; and that earlier
craters with figure scenes have subsidiary decoration in a totally different
style (cf. pi. 26,8-9). Finally, that we meet the same style on the small vases
which were put into graves in the second quarter of the sixth century (cf. pi. 36).
From the middle of the sixth century onwards, Attic vases were regularly
imported into the districts which had previously been supplied almost exclu-
sively by Corinth. Attic vases were, of course, widely exported from the
early sixth century onwards, but chiefly to Rhodes, Naukratis, and Etruria;
and it happens that we have no useful records of the contexts in which these
earlier exports were found. But when they appear in quantity in the Boeotian
and Sicilian cemeteries of the middle of the century, Attic vases are frequently
found in the same graves as Corinthian, and they consequently enable us to
form a definite picture of the Corinthian style in this period.2
One fact emerges clearly at once: by the middle of the century the
orientalizing style had practically disappeared. The Corinthian industry
1 Notably the use of white for stripes on the wing fig. 189; fig. 190 is also Attic, perhaps rather later
coverts, for broad surfaces (necks of cocks, &c), and than fig. 189. The subject of this fragment,
the practice of engraving on a white surface. which has given some trouble (cf. Orsi loc. cit. and
2 Attic vases were probably imported into Boeotia Pfuhl i, 219 note 1), is a boar hunt: hind part of boar
continuously from the geometric period onwards, to 1.; on the right, white dog springing at the boar,
but not in quantity; they are conspicuously absent partially drawn across the black surface of the boar's
from all the earlier Corinthian graves at Rhitsona. body. Fig. 191 is Corinthian (cat. no. 1468); cf. Pfuhl
Among the earliest Attic vases from S. Italy and loc. cit. who, however, takes fig. 189 for Corinthian
Sicily are the cups nos. 9,15-19 mentioned on p. 194, also. It is made of red clay and is certainly Attic,
and the fragment from Gela, Mon. Ant. xvii, 251