Sicilian vase painting

The vase painting of Sicily was especially closely connected with the Lucanian and Paestan styles.

Production began before the end of the 5th century BC in the cities of Himera and Syracusae.

In terms of style, themes, ornamentation and vase shapes, the workshops closely followed Attic examples.

In the second quarter of the 4th century BC, potters who had emigrated from Sicily to Capua and Cumae in Campania and to Paestum founded production centres there.

The clay of the vases is pale pink, the black paint is off matt tone and has a tendency to flake off easily.

Phlyax scene on a krater by the Dirce Painter , circa 360/340 BC. Madrid : National Archaeological Museum of Spain .
Phlyax scene on a krater by the Lentini - Manfria Group : a master and his slave in a short peplos , circa 350/340 BC. Paris : Louvre .