Gorgon Painter

Gorgon Painter
Name vase of the Gorgon Painter, dated about 580 BC, located in Paris at the Louvre.
Born	Unknown. Named from the theme of the vase shown. Before 600 BC Probably Athens
Died	Around 580 BC
Nationality	Greek
Known for	Vase painting, pottery manufacture
Notable work	He produced small vases in his own workshop.
Movement	Black-figure style

The Gorgon Painter was one of the first Attic black-figure vase painters. He was active between 600 and 580 BC. His name vase, a dinos in the Louvre (E 874), depicting Perseus fleeing the gorgons was the first Attic vase to depict a complex narrative.

The Gorgon Painter is considered as the very productive successor of the Nessos Painter, whose fanciful style he adopted, adapted and organised. He was the first representative of the animal frieze style in Athens; painting animal friezes influenced closely by Corinthian precedents. Additionally, he arranged his demonic animals in symmetric patterns. Characteristic of his paintings are lions with box-shaped snouts and manes painted as hatchings or red flames. He rarely painted humans; where he did, they are always accompanied by animals or animal friezes. Overall, the Gorgon Painter was highly dependent on Corinthian vase painting. His human figures are considered stiff and mannerist. Apart from '’dinoi’’, he painted an early form of '’lekythoi’’, resembling Corinthian '’aryballoi’’, '’olpes’’, plates, '’amphoriskoi’’, '’kothones’’ and '’oinochoai’’. His workshop founded a tradition that can be traced over a long time, especially on '’olpes’’. Imitations of his work are known from Boeotia.