“Six Technique” Unguentarium

A red line at the bottom and two at the top define the figurative register occupied by a female figure riding a panther. The character, in profile, painted in white, with red hair and a wreath of leaves, and a circular earring, moves to the right, drawing back her right arm and brandishing a fish with her left. The drawing of the woman is accompanied by an inscription with a controversial reading, perhaps meaningless. The feline is drawn with its head turned towards the observer, its eyes wide open, its tongue hanging out. Its figure is made entirely with graffito, the thick fur is rendered on the neck by dotting, on the body by open circles.

This polychrome black ground lekythos belongs to the so-called “Six Technique” class. This term was introduced by J. D. Beazley in honor of Jan Six, the Dutch scholar who first studied and classified the vases made with this special technique that employs polychromy on a black ground.

 

Attic lekythos of the Six Technique,

Height 18.2 cm, max diameter 7.7 cm.

Sappho Painter

Early 5th century BC

Cumaean collection, inv. 86382

Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei - Baia Castle

 

 

 

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