Greek red-figure fish plate, South Italy, Campania, c. 4th century BC, attributed to the Robinson Painter
Terracotta
Height: 4cm; diameter 14.5cm
11765
Copyright The Artist
Fish plate, the upper surface decorated in red-figure with added white, depicting a torpedo fish and two bream. The downward folded rim decorated with a vertical dash pattern. The central...
Fish plate, the upper surface decorated in red-figure with added white, depicting a torpedo fish and two bream. The downward folded rim decorated with a vertical dash pattern. The central depression reserved, the dish supported on a hollow high foot, and is reserved, as is the rest of the underside.
Intact, some minor losses and surface dirt to the upper surface. Around the central depression there are some cracks to the glazing.
This plate is typical of the fabric associated with the Robinson Painter and that coming from Cumae. His highly characteristic style is denoted in his rendering of various types of bream, his favourite fish. The drawing of the eye is also particularly characteristic - a large black dot for the pupil, with a white border around the lower half but not encircling the pupil, and the gills are often shown in added white. McPhee and Trendall (see comparanda) categorise the current plate as Campania IIC, Robinson Painter, group D, smaller plates with a torpedo fish and strokes.
Intact, some minor losses and surface dirt to the upper surface. Around the central depression there are some cracks to the glazing.
This plate is typical of the fabric associated with the Robinson Painter and that coming from Cumae. His highly characteristic style is denoted in his rendering of various types of bream, his favourite fish. The drawing of the eye is also particularly characteristic - a large black dot for the pupil, with a white border around the lower half but not encircling the pupil, and the gills are often shown in added white. McPhee and Trendall (see comparanda) categorise the current plate as Campania IIC, Robinson Painter, group D, smaller plates with a torpedo fish and strokes.
Provenance
Sotheby's, London, UK, 25th October 1971Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK; acquired from the above
Professor J.M. Little (1933-2023), Sydney, Australia; acquired from the above 1972
Private collection, Australia; by descent from the above
Literature
Compare Ian McPhee and A.D. Trendall, Greek Red-figured Fish-plates (Basel, 1987), pl.24 c and d, and pl.25, a and bPublications
Sotheby's London, UK, Egyptian, Western Asiatic, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, 25th October 1971, lot 146Charles Ede Ltd, Catalogue 88 (London, October 1972), no.22
Ian McPhee and A.D. Trendall, Greek Red-figured Fish-plates (Basel, 1987), Campania IIC, i), d), no.50, p.85
