TheUnderworld Painter was an ancient GreekApulianvase painter whose works date to the second half of the 4th century BC.
The Underworld Painter is the successor of theDarius Painter, in whose workshop he began his career and where he worked with other influential craftsmen. This was a large factory-like workshop, probably atTaras. He most frequently depicted theatrical scenes, especially ones from theClassical tragedies byEuripides, andmythological themes.
One of his works showsHades andPersephone in her palace in the underworld. The compositions and the mythological content are close to those of the Darius Painter, and the influences can be seen in his depictions of robes and faces. Other subjects include Hades kidnapped Persephone,Eos kidnappedCephalus, andCastor and Pollux abducting the daughters ofLeucippus. In the first two vases he is quite free in his presentation, he distributed the figures on different levels and separates them by tendrils friezes. The third vase is another thematically appropriate image, which is unique in the vase painting is one of its kind: Castor and Pollux fight against the sons ofAphareus. His early work has influenced the later artistsPainter of Louvre MNB 1148.
The Underworld Painter often exaggerated with decoration, so that the vases are a little overweight. In addition, he sometimes had problems with the representation of faces, so that its people appear grumpy. He strength was with the muscles naked men, which is depicted as taut and body stressing. This is reminiscent ofHellenistic sculptures. However, his painted legs are often quite thin. He attached great importance to some details. He carefully distinguished hair and patterned clothes. The Underworld Painter in his repertoire is less original than the Darius Painter, but he also shows some rarely shownMelanippe stories like the myth of two plays ofEuripides. This story has so far not been found on any other vase. Also known from theBerlin Collection of Classical Antiquities is theGigantomachykrater, the Priamiden krater and the krater of Persephone). The late work attributed to the artist is seen quite critically and shows a rapid decrease in the skill and quality. It is thought that it was no longer the work of the Underworld Painter, but the other painters of his workshop.
Media related toUnderworld Painter at Wikimedia Commons
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