Dipylon Master

The Dipylon Painter was a late Geometric Attic vase painter and perhaps pottery.

The Dipylon Painter is considered one of the most important geometric vase painter and stood in front of a workshop ( Dipylon Workshop ). He is considered the inventor of the style that is referred to in classical archeology as a Late Geometric. His works are dated to the period 760-750 BC. His Notnamen received the unknown artist after a 1.62 meter high Grabamphora ( Dipylon Amphora ), which was found at the Dipylon gate of Kerameikos in Athens.

The Dipylon painter depicted the first artist of the geometric style of the main frieze of vases in a framed box that was placed between the handles. The main theme was designed figurative, which made a distinction between different artists possible. The Dipylon painter, making it one of the earliest identifiable artist ever. His figures are taller and slimmer than the figures of the medium geometric time. Of particular quality are its ornaments, cover the neck and body of the vase. He seems to have invented the double meander, which was used for the first time on his vases. He also introduced the use of two animal friezes on the neck of his amphorae. They are borrowed from oriental models and possibly imitate gold bands.

The workshop was dedicated to the manufacture of monumental amphorae for women and for men craters graves. In the Dipylon Workshop first big jugs and oinochoai were produced. In addition, one produced in the workshop some of the last Bauchhenkelamphoren. Some of his vases were decorated with up to 100 characters. Most vases show the prothesis ( laying out of the dead ), rarely the ekphora ( procession to the grave ). In addition, warriors and chariot processions, as well as land and sea battles were shown. The opposing parties are to be distinguished based on their shields. The counterparties to wear rectangular shields, Dipylon shields or No Guard. These are not new designs, but they are first presented by the Dipylon Painter in a particular size.

In other languages ​​of the painter is called, for example in English Dipylon Master or Maître du Dipylon in French. In the German sculptor is called Dipylon Master mostly.