Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Ancient pottery from Centuripe, Sicily made during the Hellenistic period is an outlier when compared to most other red-figure, black slipped ceramics from Magna Graecia. Most Southern Italian and Sicilian vases have a distinct ornate style to them that was not a long lasting design choice in other Greek ceramic workshops. Funerary vases excavated in Centuripe's tombs provide a large collection of elaborate, decorative pottery that is not replicated anywhere else. Centuripean pottery was tempera painted with bright polychromatic colors. This unique quality of the ceramic ware has led scholars to focus on the color palette, the painted subject matters, and the shape of the pottery. Often overlooked in the study of Centuripe's pottery is how the workshops producing them were structured and manned. Particularly untouched are the relationships between Centuripe's potters and their connections with other artisans. Elizabeth Murphy studies phenomenon in regards to Roman ceramics. These "cross-industry ties" consider how connections between artisans would have produced a networking of artistic ideas and processes. Adopting this framework, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the workshop environments and artistic motivations and inspirations behind the vases of Centuripe. This paper also breaks down the vase creation process from start to finish to possibly reveal techniques and process phenomena that have not been previously explained. This research provides a new way of understanding and interpreting Centuripe-ware and how artisans worked and collaborated during the 3rd century BC.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Jared Benton
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Art History
College Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture | History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology
Session Title
Art History Session 2 - Structure and Analysis of Artistic Practice
Location
Learning Commons @Perry Library, Room 1306
Start Date
3-30-2024 10:45 AM
End Date
3-30-2024 11:45 AM
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Centuripe Ceramic Workshops and their Distinct Funerary Vases
Learning Commons @Perry Library, Room 1306
Ancient pottery from Centuripe, Sicily made during the Hellenistic period is an outlier when compared to most other red-figure, black slipped ceramics from Magna Graecia. Most Southern Italian and Sicilian vases have a distinct ornate style to them that was not a long lasting design choice in other Greek ceramic workshops. Funerary vases excavated in Centuripe's tombs provide a large collection of elaborate, decorative pottery that is not replicated anywhere else. Centuripean pottery was tempera painted with bright polychromatic colors. This unique quality of the ceramic ware has led scholars to focus on the color palette, the painted subject matters, and the shape of the pottery. Often overlooked in the study of Centuripe's pottery is how the workshops producing them were structured and manned. Particularly untouched are the relationships between Centuripe's potters and their connections with other artisans. Elizabeth Murphy studies phenomenon in regards to Roman ceramics. These "cross-industry ties" consider how connections between artisans would have produced a networking of artistic ideas and processes. Adopting this framework, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the workshop environments and artistic motivations and inspirations behind the vases of Centuripe. This paper also breaks down the vase creation process from start to finish to possibly reveal techniques and process phenomena that have not been previously explained. This research provides a new way of understanding and interpreting Centuripe-ware and how artisans worked and collaborated during the 3rd century BC.