Black Figure Technique
Knowledge of black figure technique is derived from:
- vases themselves
- scenes depicting vase production
- modern practice
- chemical experiments
The black portions of the vase are often called a black glaze but the term is misdleading. The dark portions are produced by placing a clay slip (finer in texture than the clay of the pot and more liquidy). In black figure you have a clay slip placed against a red background (usually the color of the clay once fired). Details are incised. White and red paint were accessory colors; white for women and for hair and beards of old men, red for hair, manes of horses, parts of garments, etc.
After the decoration was completed and the vases had become bone dry, they were placed in a kiln and fired [See Pedley, p. 184 for an illustration of a kiln]. A single fire but in three successive stages:
- oxidyzing (air admitted): vases and slip turn red
- reducing (smoke introduced): both become black
- re-oxydizing: clay of vase turns red, being porous enough to admit oxygen; the denser slip, however, remains black
Lastly, a red ochre application was applied to intensify the red of the clay. Pedley has a fuller explanation of the process on pages 183-184. For shapes, see Pedley p. 185 Attic Black Figure(600-)
--Gorgon Painter, 600-580
--Sophilos, 580-70, Dinos, Funeral Games for Patroclus--first signed Attic vase we have. See other Sophilos Dinos on p. 188
--Kleitias and Ergotimos, Francois vase, 570, Volute Krater; main theme is marriage of Peleus and Thetis; p. 186 and 189
--Nearchos, Kantharos, 570-55, Achilles speaks to his horses
--Amasis Painter, Amphora, Dionysus and two Maenads (Dionysus' female followers), 540; p. 187
--***Exekias, floruit 540-25. A master potter/painter; the great genius of black- figure.
1. funerary plaques
2. Ajax and Achilles, amphora; p. 188
3. Achilles kills Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, amphora; p. 188
4. Dioscuri (Castor and Polydeuces) at home, amphora.
5. Ajax prepares to kill himself, amphora; p. 190
6. Dionsysus on the sea, kylix
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