Red-figure pottery

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Red-figure pottery is a style of Greek pottery that was invented in Athens around 530 BCE. It replaced the earlier black-figure pottery style and became the dominant style for the next 130 years. The technique involved painting the figures in a red slip on a black background, which allowed for greater detail and complexity in the depiction of human figures and scenes.

History

The red-figure technique was developed by the potter Andokides and his workshop. It quickly gained popularity due to its ability to depict more naturalistic human figures and intricate details. The technique spread from Athens to other parts of Greece and the Mediterranean.

Technique

The red-figure technique involved several steps:

1. The potter would shape the vessel and apply a slip to the areas that would remain black.
2. The details of the figures were then painted using a fine brush, allowing for greater precision and detail.
3. The vessel was fired in a kiln through a three-stage process: oxidizing, reducing, and re-oxidizing. This process turned the slip black and left the figures in the natural red color of the clay.

Notable Artists

Several notable artists and workshops are associated with red-figure pottery, including:

• Euphronios
• Euthymides
• The Berlin Painter
• The Kleophrades Painter

Themes and Subjects

Red-figure pottery often depicted scenes from Greek mythology, daily life, and athletic competitions. Common themes included:

• Dionysian scenes
• Homeric epics
• Symposia
• Athletic events

Decline

The popularity of red-figure pottery began to decline in the late 4th century BCE, as other styles and techniques emerged. By the end of the 3rd century BCE, it had largely fallen out of use.

Related Pages

• Black-figure pottery
• Greek pottery
• Ancient Greek art
• Andokides
• Euphronios
• The Berlin Painter