Lydos

Lydos (Greek ὁ Λυδός ho Lydos, " the Lydians " ) was an Attic vase painter of the black-figure style. He is the chief representative of Lydos group and worked in the period 560-530 BC

Life, work and style

The name Lydos, which is handed down as a signature on two vases, provides information on the background of the artist. Either he came out of the Lyderreich of King Croesus to Athens, or was born to parents of Lydia in Athens. Anyway, he learned his craft in Athens. Until today it is sometimes difficult to identify the works of Lydos always clear, since he was the center and main artist of a significant and very productive Attic pottery. That's why today many vases as in the type of Lydos be referred to as unambiguous assignments are often difficult. Several other artists could be named within this circle, the Painter of Vatican 309 and the Painter of Louvre F 6 in the style of these works are quite homogeneous, but have in the quality often considerable differences.

The style of the Lydos strongly reminiscent of older artists such as the painter of the Sianaschalen, of which he also painted many. He was the last Athenian painter who decorated large vases all in Corinthian style with colorful animal friezes. His figures, however, are reminiscent of the works of the Klitias and subsequent painters whose characters seem like " wrapped ". In addition, they may have spotted garments, as they preferred drew the Amasis Painter and radiate almost the dignity of the figures of Exekias. However, the Lydos group painted not only large vases but is also known for their miniature work. So here about minor masters and eye cups were painted. Lydos even the painting of a band shell is attributed to the Nikosthenes has pottery. The Lydians are repainting at all vase shapes produced at this time in the Kerameikos attributed, in particular, a series of Grabpinakes.

One of the two vases is signed on the Acropolis of Athens found, only fragmentarily preserved dinosaur, reminiscent of its kind on the works of the painter of the Acropolis and 606 of Nearchus. The main frieze shows a high quality designed gigantomachy. Besides friezes show a procession, a hunting and animal friezes. Particularly striking are several detailed drawings and color schemes in this work. So Lydos drew a wasp as plate characters and dangerous -looking knife in the procession scene. Is mitigated by the effect of this martial quality representation of the animals. Also, a particularly well-known work is a day at the Metropolitan Museum befindlicher column krater. He's almost as big as the Françoisvase, but adorned only with a single frieze, so that the figures are almost 25 cm high. The interest of the painter is less in the illustrated myth (return of Hephaestus ), but the gestures of the figures of Dionysus and Hephaestus, but especially those of the accompanying satyrs and maenads. He dispensed with minor details as it used about Klitias always. His satyrs are not, such as the Amasis Painter common in exhibitionist manner, but rather as "masters " shown.

Frequently Lydos constitutes mythical themes and performs several mythical themes in the repertoire of the Attic vase painter new one. His depictions vary in quality. He often provides so-called "Penguin Women " dar. With them the coats before the chest are probably by wrapping held together and run back in a kind of "tail" from. Men, he often presents with himation clothed, which he characterized by diagonal stripes, so that they act as bandaged. The Oinochoe made ​​by the potter kolkhoz (Berlin, Collection of Classical Antiquities F 1732) shows mannered acting figures. Athena ( the Hercules support in the fight against Cycnus ) he is again in the style of Amasis Painter in outline drawing, the robes of Ares and Zeus (who intervenes in the fight ) are first attempts, the three-dimensional character at around 540 BC, newly developed to use. His palmettes adorn the neck and handle of the vessel are, on the one hand, late of this form of representation, on the other hand, they are ringing in the decoration of the red-figure period. Among the best works of Lydos also include several plates, which he decorated with running and flying figures. A plate of it fills completely with a Gorgoneion. In his early works he shows a penchant for color, which he stores increasingly in the course of his creative life. He also pays attention first to include certain details such as the hairy buttocks of felines, later he pays more attention to the gestures of the figures. Although his animals look a bit wooden, but are generally very decorative.

Lydos painted vases of various pottery, besides vessels of Nikosthenes and Collective Farm as well as works of Epitimos or Amasis. The style of his workshop worked, although actually already out of date, even up to the 20s of the 6th century BC after. The reason for this is no longer to be clarified today, perhaps, the program turned to older or poorer customers. The last painter who remembers in his style to Lydos, the Ready - painter.

Selected Works

• Malibu, J. Paul Getty Museum

• New York, Metropolitan Museum

• Paris, Louvre