This vessel shows us the importance of Dionysious in Classical Culture and of course also wine and the cult of the grape vine. Dionysios reclines his couch a ship and its pirate crew have become dolphins and swim along and around it. The mast is sprouting vines with full bunches of grapes. The ship is rendered in exquisite detail including the rigging of the sails full of wind and their cables.
Balance symmetry color form ornament and a story illustrated. And on a functional vessel not just for display but using! The potter who created this masterpiece is not recorded. He did not sign his name. Potters rarely did. He is as much a hero as some Spartan king or Athenian orator.
No comments:
Post a Comment