Apulian Pottery

Background

Apulian pottery, also known as Apulian vase painting, refers to a specific style of pottery produced in the region of Apulia in southeastern Italy during the late 5th to 3rd centuries BCE. This style is a subset of South Italian or Magna Graecia pottery, which includes various regional styles influenced by Greek pottery traditions. Here's a detailed exploration of Apulian pottery:

Historical Context

Magna Graecia: The term Magna Graecia refers to the coastal areas of Southern Italy that were colonized by Greek settlers starting in the 8th century BCE. These colonies maintained strong cultural and artistic ties with Greece.
Apulia: Apulia, located in the heel of Italy's "boot," became a prominent center for pottery production, especially during the Hellenistic period. The region absorbed and adapted Greek artistic traditions, creating a distinctive local style.

Characteristics of Apulian Pottery

Shapes and Forms: Apulian pottery includes a variety of shapes, such as kraters (mixing bowls), amphorae (storage jars), hydriae (water jars), lekythoi (oil flasks), and kylixes (drinking cups). These forms were often large and elaborately decorated.
Red-Figure Technique: The most common technique used in Apulian pottery was the red-figure technique, where the figures were left in the natural red color of the clay while the background was painted black. This technique allowed for greater detail and complexity in the depiction of figures.
Polychromy and Added Colors: Apulian vase painters frequently used added colors such as white, yellow, and red to enhance the decoration, highlighting details like clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
Themes and Subjects: Common themes included scenes from Greek mythology, daily life, and funerary rituals. Apulian pottery is particularly noted for its elaborate and dramatic scenes involving gods, heroes, and mythological creatures.
Ornamental Decoration: The decoration often included intricate patterns, floral motifs, and elaborate borders. Palmettes, meanders, and vine tendrils were popular decorative elements.

Workshops and Notable Artists

Darius Painter: One of the most famous Apulian vase painters, known for his large and complex compositions, often featuring multiple figures and detailed mythological narratives.
Underworld Painter: Another prominent artist, named for his frequent depiction of scenes related to the Underworld and the afterlife.
Varrese Painter: Known for his detailed and refined style, often focusing on smaller, more intimate scenes.

Functions and Uses

Funerary Contexts: Many Apulian vases were used in funerary contexts, either as grave markers or as offerings placed in tombs. The scenes depicted on these vases often related to themes of death, the afterlife, and hero cults.
Domestic and Ritual Use: Apart from their funerary use, Apulian vases were also used in domestic and ritual contexts. They served practical purposes in daily life, such as storing and serving food and drink, and played a role in religious rituals and ceremonies.

Influence and Legacy

Cultural Synthesis: Apulian pottery represents a synthesis of Greek and indigenous Italic artistic traditions, reflecting the cultural interactions and exchanges in Magna Graecia.
Artistic Influence: The style and techniques of Apulian pottery influenced other regional pottery styles in South Italy, contributing to the rich diversity of ancient Italic art.
Collection and Study: Apulian pottery is highly valued by collectors and scholars for its artistic quality and historical significance. Many pieces are held in major museums around the world, providing insights into ancient Italic culture and society.

Conclusion

Apulian pottery is a distinctive and richly decorated style of ancient vase painting that emerged in southeastern Italy during the late 5th to 3rd centuries BCE. Known for its large, elaborately decorated vases and the use of the red-figure technique, Apulian pottery features intricate mythological scenes, funerary motifs, and detailed ornamental patterns. The works of notable painters like the Darius Painter and the Underworld Painter exemplify the artistic achievements of this tradition. As a significant part of the cultural heritage of Magna Graecia, Apulian pottery continues to be studied and admired for its contribution to the ancient art of the Mediterranean world.

Sources

Maximilian Mayer, Apulien vor und während der Hellenisierung, 1914

Michele Gervasio, I dolmen e la civiltà del bronzo nelle Puglie, Bari, 1913

Michele Gervasio, Bronzi arcaici e ceramica geometrica nel Museo di Bari, 1921

Arthur Dale Trendall, The red-figured vases of Apulia, 1. Early and Middle Apulian, Oxford 1978

Arthur Dale Trendall, The red-figured vases of Apulia, 2. Late Apulian. Indexes, Oxford 1982

Arthur Dale Trendall & Alexander Cambitoglou, First supplement to the red-figured vases of Apulia, University of London, Institute of Classical Studies, Bulletin supplements 42, London 1983

Arthur Dale Trendall & Alexander Cambitoglou, Second supplement to the red-figured vases of Apulia, 1-3, University of London, Institute of Classical Studies, Bulletin supplements 60, London 1991-92

Arthur Dale Trendall, Rotfigurige Vasen aus Unteritalien und Sizilien. Ein Handbuch. von Zabern, Mainz 1991 (Kulturgeschichte der Antiken Welt Vol. 47), ISBN 3-8053-1111-7 (esp. p. 85-177)

D. Randall-MacIver, The Iron Age in Italy, Clarendon Press, 1927.

Rolf Hurschmann, Apulische Vasen, in Der Neue Pauly Vol. 1 (1996), col. 922-923.

Von Bothmer, Dietrich (1987). Greek vase painting. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 0870990845.