Died Around 580 BC Movement Black-figure style | Nationality Greek | |
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Full Name Unknown. Named from the theme of the vase shown. Born Before 600 BC Probably Athens Known for Vase painting, pottery manufacture Notable work He produced small vases in his own workshop. | ||
The dinos of the gorgon painter explanation and 12 questions
The Gorgon Painter was one of the first Attic black-figure vase painters. He was active between 600 and 580 BC. His name vase, a dinos in the Louvre (E 874), depicting Perseus fleeing the gorgons was the first Attic vase to depict a complex narrative.
The Gorgon Painter is considered as the very productive successor of the Nessos Painter, whose fanciful style he adopted, adapted and organised. He was the first representative of the animal frieze style in Athens; painting animal friezes influenced closely by Corinthian precedents. Additionally, he arranged his demonic animals in symmetric patterns. Characteristic of his paintings are lions with box-shaped snouts and manes painted as hatchings or red flames. He rarely painted humans; where he did, they are always accompanied by animals or animal friezes. Overall, the Gorgon Painter was highly dependent on Corinthian vase painting. His human figures are considered stiff and mannerist. Apart from '’dinoi’’, he painted an early form of '’lekythoi’’, resembling Corinthian '’aryballoi’’, '’olpes’’, plates, '’amphoriskoi’’, '’kothones’’ and '’oinochoai’’. His workshop founded a tradition that can be traced over a long time, especially on '’olpes’’. Imitations of his work are known from Boeotia.
