established 1942
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established 1942
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ATTIC BLACK-FIGURE LEKYTHOS “The Concert of Apollo” with the god of music playing a lyre instead of his usual kithara.The goddesses standing on either side of him are probably his sister Artemis (behind him) and his mother Leto. Both hold a flower. At far left, behind Artemis, stands Dionysos holding a rhyton. At far right, behind Leto, is the nude Hermes holding his kerykeion. Ex Swiss private collection; John Kluge collection, Charlottesville, Virginia, acquired from Royal-Athena in 1988; Patricia Kluge collection, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1990-2010. Late 6th century BC H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) Art of the Ancient World, 2011, no. 114 1,000 Years of Ancient Greek Vases II, no. 67 Art of the Ancient World, 1985, no. 62 PK1007K $27,500 Sales More information below. |
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| The large diameter and tall, nearly conical shoulder place this among the earliest of the cylindrical lekythoi that came into fashion in the last quarter of the 6th century and which became standard red-figure type throughout most of the 5th century. The closest parallel in shape may be Syracuse 8276, the earliest example of this type known to Haspels when she first classified the black-figure lekythoi of Athens; see C.H.E. Haspels, Attic Black-Figured Lekythoi, Paris, 1936, 42, pl. 14, 1a-b. The early date is supported by the style of ornament and figures. There are simple black tongues below the neck and black palmettes on the shoulder, the latter linked by tendrils and pointing alternately up and down. A reserved stripe circles the black lower body. On the front of the vase, below the upright palmette opposite the handle, Apollo stands in profile to the right. The god of music is playing a lyre (not his usual kithara) for a group of four figures, presumably fellow deities. Apollo wears a chiton and himation, as well as a red fillet. The goddesses standing on either side of him are probably his sister Artemis (behind him) and his mother Leto (before him). Both wear chitons, himations, and fillets, and both hold a flower in one hand, which they hold out to Apollo. The added white of their skin has largely flaked off, as has that of Apollo’s chiton. At far left, behind Artemis, stands Dionysos holding a rhyton in one hand. He wears a chiton, himation, and a wreath of ivy. Like Apollo and the goddesses, his himation has red stripes and also red rosettes. At far right, behind Leto, is the nude Hermes holding his herald’s wand. Broken and repaired; parts of the mouth and neck restored. |
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