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Saturday, April 18, 2009

SIREN PAINTER

British Museum London (eponymous vase c.480-470BC)

Siren painter is the nickname of an ancient Greek artist who decorated but did not sign Attic red-figured vases. His real name is unknown, as are the date of his birth and death.

Following to common scholar's practice, this artist's name was derived from the subject of one of his artworks, a red-figured stamnos which illustrates a scene from Homer's Odyssey (XII, 39): Odysseus is tied to the mast of his ship when he is passing along the island of the Sirens, dangerous bird-women. The Siren painter was presumably working in Athens in the years 480-470BC. Wikipedia

Some of his preserved vases are on public display at The British Museum and The Louvre, Paris.

All of the above was prompted by Grace's description of John William Waterhouse's painting, Miranda, The Tempest, 1916. I keep learning something every day.


Ulysses & The Sirens - John William Waterhouse 1891

2 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

I've always thought these type of Greek vases were just marvelous! I adore the contrast of the rich golden browns with the black.

alaine@éclectique said...

I swear we must have been born under the same star!

What I find amazing is that the world has one in such fantastic condition - 480BC! - incredible.