ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAIVANO PAINTER, CIRCA 350-330 B.C.

Details

A CAMPANIAN RED-FIGURED BELL-KRATER
ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAIVANO PAINTER, CIRCA 350-330 B.C.
Obverse with the ambush of Troilos by Achilles, with Achilles to the left, a sword in his right hand, pursuing the young Troilos on horseback, naked but for drapery over his shoulders; the reverse with two standing draped youths; large palmettes under the handles, band of wave pattern below, band of laurel under the rim, details in added red and white
14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired prior to 1976.

Literature

J. Chamay, Achille et Troilos, Par le Peintre de Caivano, Geneva, 1980, pp. 48-53, pl. 15, 1-4.
A.D. Trendall, The Red-figured Vases of Lucania, Campania and Sicily, Third Supplement, London, 1983, pp. 145-146, no. 566b, pl 16,3.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Nicola Chan

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Lot Essay

According to Greek mythology, Troilus was one of the young sons of King Priam and Hecuba of Troy. A prophecy pronounced that Troy would not fall if Troilus survived into adulthood, impelling Athena to encourage Achilles to murder him. Troilus’ fate has symbolic significance, indicating that ultimately all Trojan efforts to defend their city and livelihood were wasted efforts.

This work is distinctive of the Caivano Painter, who represents ground-lines or rocks as almost flowing volcanic rock, and paints florals as the typical fan-shaped flower with a cluster of dots in the centre with a white stamen emerging from them. For a Lucanian bell-krater depicting a similar scene of Achilles and Troilus, cf. accession no. IV 1091 at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

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