Ancient Greek Painting Techniques

In Greece, painting first ceased to be subordinate to architecture, and became independent. Greek painters used home made pigments, individual to each artist. Painters guarded their paint recipes jealousy. If a recipe was copied the rival artist they often met with a very hash end. The recipes were handed down generation to generation. Most home-made pigments were created from bone, charcoal, ground stone, and naturally occurring earth pigments.

Eminent art historian and author, F. B. Tarbell explains "In the fourth century art became even more cosmopolitan than before. The distinctions between local schools were nearly effaced and the question of an artist's birthplace or residence ceases to have much importance Athens, however, maintained her artistic preeminence through the first half or more of the century. Several of the most eminent sculptors of the period were certainly or probably Athenians, and others appear to have made Athens their home for a longer or shorter time. It is therefore common to speak of a "younger Attic school," whose members would include most of the notable sculptors of this period. What the tendencies of the times were will best be seen by studying the most eminent representatives of this group or school."

Classic Greek Art
Ancient Greek Pottery
Ancient Greek Jewelry
Ancient Greek Sculpture
Ancient Greek Swords

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