Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-22dnz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T12:31:55.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Evaluation of Decorative Techniques on a Red-Figure Attic Vase from the Worcester Art Museum using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and Confocal Microscopy with a Special Focus on the “Relief Line”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

Paula Artal-Isbrand ,
Philip Klausmeyer  and
Winifred Murray
Paula Artal-Isbrand
Affiliation:
Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609, U.S.A.
Philip Klausmeyer
Affiliation:
Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609, U.S.A.
Winifred Murray
Affiliation:
Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Decorative features on a Greek red-figure stamnos in the collection of the Worcester Art Museum were examined using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and scanning laser confocal microscopy. These two surface examination tools helped to answer questions relating to the decorative process, particularly the tools and techniques that Attic painters used to create the so-called glossy black “relief lines” and “relief dots.” This research also incorporated fabricated mock-ups to help understand the ancient technology. It was determined that the relief line was not produced by an extruded method, but with a brush made of one or very few hairs, an idea first proposed by Gérard Seiterle in 1976 and termed Linierhaar. It was observed that not one but two distinct types of relief lines exist: the “laid” line (proposed by Seiterle) characterized by a ridge running through the middle of the line and the “pulled” line (proposed in this paper) which has a furrowed profile. Both line types were reproduced with a Linierhaar. Additionally, relief dots were replicated using a conventional brush. Surface examinations of other red-figure vessels using RTI and the confocal microscope suggest these conclusions apply to vessels of this genre as a whole.

Keywords

ceramicarchaeologyart
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1319: Symposium WW – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IX , 2011 , mrsf10-1319-ww01-06
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Boardman, J., The History of Greek Vases: Potters, Painters and Pictures (Thames & Hudson, London, 2001) pp. 48 & 105.Google Scholar
2. Boardman, J., The History of Greek Vases: Potters, Painters and Pictures, (Thames & Hudson, London, 2001) pp. 66.Google Scholar
3. Newman, R., “Ferrous and Ferric: A Review of Scientific Research on the Iron in Attic Greek Glazes,” Papers on Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, ed. Lapatin, K. (Getty, Los Angeles, 2006) pp. 106.Google Scholar
4. Schumann, T., “Oberflächenverziehrung in der antiken Töpferkunst: Terra sigilata und griechische Schwarzrotmalerei,” Berichte der Deutschen Keramischen Gesellschaft 23 408–426 (1942).Google Scholar
5. Cohen, B., “Outline as a Special Technique in Black- and Red-figure Vase-painting,” The Colors of Clay: Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, ed. Cohen, B. (Getty, Los Angeles, 2006) pp. 151.Google Scholar
6. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 3 (1976).Google Scholar
7. Corbett, P.E., “Preliminary Sketch in Greek Vase-Painting,” Journal of Hellenistic Studies 85 16 (1965).Google Scholar
8. Aloupi-Siotis, E., “Recovery and Revival of Attic Vase-Decoration Techniques: What Can They Offer Archaeological Research?” Papers on Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, ed. Lapatin, K. (Getty, Los Angeles, 2006) pp. 123.Google Scholar
9. Cohen, B., “Outline as a Special Technique in Black- and Red-figure Vase-painting,” The Colors of Clay: Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, ed. Cohen, B. (Getty, Los Angeles, 2006) pp. 151; J. Noble, The Techniques of Painted Attic Pottery (Thames & Hudson, New York, 1988) pp. 105–107.Google Scholar
10. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 4 (1976).Google Scholar
11. Hartwig, P., “Die Anwendung der Federfahne bei den Griechischen Vasenmalern,” Jahrbuch des Kaiserlichen Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 14 147–167 (1887).Google Scholar
12. Hartwig, P., “Die Anwendung der Federfahne bei den Griechischen Vasenmalern,” Jahrbuch des Kaiserlichen Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 14 148 (1887).Google Scholar
13. Boardman, J., The History of Greek Vases: Potters, Painters and Pictures (Thames & Hudson, London, 2001) pp. 286.Google Scholar
14. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 6 (1976).Google Scholar
15. Noble, J., The Techniques of Painted Attic Pottery, second revised edition, (Thames & Hudson, New York, 1988) pp. 119–120.Google Scholar
16. Adams, F., The Genuine Works by Hippocrates (Sydenham Society, London, 1849) p. 819.Google Scholar
17. Hartwig, P., “Die Anwendung der Federfahne bei den Griechischen Vasenmalern,” Jahrbuch des Kaiserlichen Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 14 147–167 (1887).Google Scholar
18. Lezzi-Hafter, A., “Clay, Gold, and Craft: Special Techniques in Three Vases by the Eretria Painter and Their Apotheosis in Xenophantos,” Papers on Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, ed. Lapatin, K. (Getty, Los Angeles, 2006) pp. 180–81.Google Scholar
19. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 6 (1976).Google Scholar
20. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 6 (1976).Google Scholar
21. Boardman, J., The History of Greek Vases: Potters, Painters and Pictures, (Thames & Hudson, London, 2001) pp. 286.Google Scholar
22. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 9 (1976).Google Scholar
23. Seiterle, G., “Die Zeichentechnik in der rotfigurigen Vasenmalerei,” Antike Welt 7.2 9 (1976); J. Noble, The Techniques of Painted Attic Pottery, second revised edition, (Thames & Hudson, New York, 1988) pp. 118–120. Google Scholar
24. Caskey, L. and Beazley, J., Attic Vase Paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (Humphrey Milford Oxford University Press, Boston, 1963) Vol. III, pp. 35 pl.76.Google Scholar
25. Noble, J., The Techniques of Painted Attic Pottery, second revised edition, (Thames & Hudson, New York, 1988) pp. 139 & 142.Google Scholar