Smikros

Smikros (Greek: small) was an ancient Greek vase painter to 500 BC in Athens worked in the workshop of Euphronios in period 510. In addition to Euphronios, Euthymides, Hypsis and the Dikaios painter Smikros was one of the most important representatives of the so-called pioneer group of Attic red-figure vase painting.

From Smikros signed three vessels have survived. Two of them are stamnoi on which he praises a Antias in a Kalos inscription, the third one Strickhenkelamphora. The preference for such vessels and for favorite interior writings he has in common with Euphronios, from which it was formed. Like him, he has also been immortalized in a Leagros Kalos inscription. John D. Beazley called him even as imitators of Euphronios. It is possible that Smikros has worked on some of the late and not quite successful vases that are assigned Euphronios. On a psykter in the Hermitage (Saint Petersburg ) Euphronios has provided a female figure with the inscription Smikra what could be understood as an allusion to his pupils. On another Amphora It is seems to belong Smikros what can possibly close to a collaboration between the two artists. Smikros be additionally assigned to another stamnos and two Peliken.

Beazley designated Smikros as bad draftsman. However, this is true at most in comparison with the other representatives of the pioneer group. It must also be borne in mind that the red-figure vase painting was still in its infancy and the pioneers experimented going strong. A lack of ingenuity with composition is not to conceal. His drawings are still accurate, but are very inaccurate in some details like ears or fingers. The garments can miss to care sometimes. Particularly the people are generally represented the head and body. In particular, the representation of satyrs are considered successful.

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