Etruscan Column Krater, Micali Painter, ex Christie's

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
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• Lot Description
  Central Italy, Tarquinia, Etruscan, attributed to the Micali Painter or one of his close followers, ca. 500 to 490 BCE. A magnificent column krater, finely painted in the black-figure technique, and presenting a striking form with columnar double handles rising from the shoulder to a flat projecting lip. Side A features a dramatic encounter between Herakles and a centaur - possibly Nessus, the son of Centauros who was killed by Herakles AND whose poisoned blood ironically killed Herakles. (Read more about this story in the extended description below.) Nessus is depicted as a centaur with the upper body of a man and the lower form of a horse with a long equine tail; he stands in profile facing Herakles and holds his hands behind his back, twisting and uprooting a tree in defense. Herakles stands in composite profile with his muscular chest facing forward, legs, arms, and head in profile, wielding his large club in a threatening manner over his head, nude save his lion-skin cape tied around his neck. Size: 12.75" W handlespan x 13.125" H (32.4 cm x 33.3 cm)
  
  Side B depicts two confronting warriors, both nude although one has an animal skin over his outstretched left arm. The figures confront one another brandishing their swords above their heads, a scabbard in added red pigment fastened to their hips, and with raised Corinthian helmets so as to face one another eye to eye. Note that the figure to the left is moving toward the left and simultaneously looking backward, with a tree beside him. All of the figural iconography is beautifully delineated in black figure with details that are either incised or delineated with added/fugitive red and white pigments.
  
  The story of the Tunic of Nessus tells of Herakles' demise. Nessus, having carried Herakles' wife Deianeira across the river, made unwelcome advances on her. Witnessing this from across the river, Heracles aimed a hydra-poisoned arrow at Nessus' chest. On his deathbed, Nessus informed Deianeira that his blood would guarantee that Heracles would be loyal to her - all the while knowing that his blood was infected by hydra poison. Some time later, when Deianeira grew to mistrust Heracles due to his involvement with Iole, she soaked a robe in the centaur's blood and gave it to her husband. Herakles went off to a get together with other heroes, and in the meantime Deianeira accidentally spilled some of Nessos' blood on the floor. It began to produce some fumes, and she instantly understood that it was poisonous. By the time she sent her messenger with this news to Herakles, it was too late.
  
  In addition to the figural iconography on this magnificent vessel, decorative elements adorn the lip and field of the piece. Adorning the outward facing side of the extended lip is a band of ivy, and the flat top of the rim is decorated with parallel diagonal hatching. Framing the left and right side of each figural panel are decorative borders featuring a staggered dot motif.
  
  The column krater, a large vessel used for mixing wine and water, gets its name from the column-like handles. It is said that the form first emerged with Corinthian examples in the late 7th century BCE. Athenian potters created them quite regularly from the first half of the 6th century until the third quarter of the 5th century BCE.
  
  A black-figured kyathos attributed to the Micali Painter sold for $27,500 at Christie's New York, 25 October 2016, Lot 17 (https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-etruscan-black-figured-kyathos-attributed-to-the-6029252-details.aspx)
  
  A black-figured stamnos attributed to the Micali Painter sold for $22,500 at Christie's Special Exhibition Gallery in 2011 - https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-etruscan-black-figured-stamnos-attributed-to-the-5509199-details.aspx?lid=4&sc_lang=zh-cn
  
  The Painter of Micali was so named in honor of the nineteenth century scholar named Giuseppe Micali who was the first scholar to publish an extensive series about this vase painter. Cf. N.J. Spivey, "The Micali Painter and His Followers", (1987), p. 32, fig. 34b.
  
  See a black figured hydria with centaurs and a similar ivy motif by the Micali Painter at the British Museum (1836.0224.159) - https://www.bmimages.com/preview.asp?image=00034521001&itemw=4&itemf=0001&itemstep=1&itemx=4
  
  See a black figured amphora by the Micali Painter in the Vatican Museums - http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-gregoriano-etrusco/sala-ix--raccolta-guglielmi/anfora-etrusca-a-figure-nere-del-pittore-di-micali.html
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Christie’s, New York Antiquities auction (sale 2709, June 6, 2013, lot 657); ex-private American collection, acquired between 1999 and 2000's; ex-Royal Athena Gallery, New York, New York, USA, acquired in 1999 (Art of the Ancient World, vol. X, no. 128); ex-private Freiburg, Germany collection, acquired in the European Art Market in 1996
  
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  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #143934

  Condition

  Repaired from multiple pieces (approximately 20) with some repainting over the break lines. Very little new clay. All is very well done and the imagery is quite vivid.
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