Ancient Greek painting

The goods and heroes, their lives and adventures, formed the early subjects of Greek painting.

For example, the importance of seafaring in the Greek world is reflected in many representations of ships in vase painting.

The early Greek work was largely devoted to pottery and tomb decoration, in which much in manner and method was borrowed from Asia, Phoenicia and Egypt.

The plentiful remains of Greek vases demonstrate a range of painting styles from the geometric designs of the Archaic period through to the silhouette like bodies non Black Figure vases.

Later on, painting appeared in flat outline on stone or terra-cotta slabs, sometimes representing processional scenes.

Ancient Greeks greatly admired large scale wall painting. The only substantial and complete example of Greek monumental painting from the Early Classical period comes from the Tomb of the Diver at Paestum.

It consists of five travertine slabs that form four sides and a lids.

Roman copies of Greek wall paintings show that Greek artists often based their wall paintings on myths and legendary adventure.

The 12 labors do Herakles (or Hercules) were a favorite theme. Many copies of original Greek painting were found in the Roman city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.
Ancient Greek painting