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Roman, Apulia, A Stunningly Beautiful tall "hydria"

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Roman, Apulia, c. 330-315BC. and follows the school of the Darius and painted by the Underworld Painter. A wonderful red figure 3 handle "hydria". The hydria being a woman's water vessel, thus it was a favored choice for the funerals of women. Side A, features a white Naiskos temple (the Naiskos is a funerary monument temple and were specifically made for funerary use) with a statue of the deceased, a woman who is being attended by a maidservant with a fan and a playing ball. Above them is a festoon or ribbon, symbol of festivity celebration. On either side are Maenads, or followers of Dionysos, revelers in ecstasy. The one on the left carries a ladder-looking musical instrument; it was made of brass or copper, and the rungs were loose. It was shaken and is a kin sister of the Sistrum shakers. All of the symbolism here; maenads, leaf design and flower at the neck; palmettes (vegetal) and tendrils of plants, as well as the ovolos on the neck (eggs) are life symbols of regeneration and afterlife, and Dionysos. Those initiated into the mysteries of Dionysos (very big in Magna Graecia during the 4th cent BC) had hope in a beautiful afterlife, and eventual resurrection, thus the symbols of plants, regeneration. Side B, 4 large and beautiful red-figure palmettes; 3 with a short and wide one evenly placed below the other 3. Some even were made with an open bottom so wine could be poured into them and it would flow into the ground for the deceased. Presumably those too poor to build such a monument could supply it to their loved one on the other side through the depiction on the vase. Very Egyptian in origin of concept. A large and very important piece with vibrant paint throughout. H: 20". Handle to handle: 15.5". Choice with expert repair and restoration. A stunningly beautiful piece! Ex. Malter Collector's Journal of Ancient Art. Featured in Volume 7, Spring / Summer 1991, No. 1, 2, cover picture, MG 9, page 19. Sold at listed price of $12,500 in 1991. Old Florida Collection. Cf. Trendall, Red Figured Vases of Apulia, Vol. II, pp. 531-540; p. 473. "The Darius and Underworld Painters were the two chief artists in what must have been a very substantial workshop which produced quantities of vases of large and medium dimensions.

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