Greek vases of the Luynes - Bibliothèque nationale de France

PRESS KIT
Press release
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Practical informations
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Presentation
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Sections of the exhibition
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Publication
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Richelieu
October 28, 2013 I October 31, 2015
PRESS RELEASE
Of Red and Black
Greek vases of the Luynes’ collection
At the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Museum of Coins, medals and antiques presents all the
Greek vases of the Luynes’ collection. The hundred ceramics unearthed in the 19th century during Italian
archaeological excavations will allow visitors to discover the most beautiful pieces from 6th and 5th
century BC. pottery Athenian workshops.
These vases decorated with red and black figures illustrate the excellence of a craft disclosing the life and spirit
of the ancient Greece. These outstanding and richly ornamented works are proposed to contemporary visitors
as the dismantled pieces of a puzzle made in Greek pottery kilns 2500 years ago. The Duke of Luynes collected
them to make the famous archaeological and numismatic collection that he donated to the Bibliothèque
nationale de France in 1862. This is one of the most prestigious bequests ever made to a French institution.
The Duke of Luynes and his collection
Honoré d’Albert, Duke of Luynes (1802-1867), is one of the most famous figures in the field of 19th century art
and archaeology. This rich and learned aristocrat was also a patron with a passion for antiquity. Both in Paris,
Italy and Greece, he made up a unique collection of coins and antiques. At the end of his life, he donated these
pieces to the ‘Cabinet des Médailles’ so that they can be seen by other people and examined by scholars.
The Duke gathered these hundred ceramic vases between 1820 and 1850. At that time, the most beautiful
pieces discovered during excavations in Etruria and southern Italy were eagerly sought by famous collectors
and European museums. These vases reflect the taste of the man who selected them. They all offer both an
aesthetic and thematic interest.
The Greek vases
This collection allows to discover how the Athenian craftmen created one of the most sophisticated pottery
works. The contrast between the red colour of the clay proper to the Athenian region and the beautiful black
glaze is almost enough to compose the scenery. Intended to the Greek or Etruscan elite who collected them in
Italy, these vases were particularly used in everyday life for drinking parties and ablutions. Some of them were
also selected to pay tribute to the gods and the dead.
The meticulous and complex iconography portraying men and gods is characteristic of Greek antiquity. The
most beautiful vases so became true masterpieces.
Images of the ancient Greece
The vases of the Luynes’ collection and their rich iconography offer an exceptional directory to tackle the
ancient Greece. Mythical figures are widely illustrated : Olympian gods, heroes (Heracles, Theseus, Ulysse…);
the Dyonisiac universe is particularly present on vases illustrating wine consumption and used during drinking
parties. Iconography also discloses certain aspects of the Athenian everyday life : athletics, war, seduction…
Each vase is an opportunity to shed light on a facet of life and beliefs in ancient times.
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Of Red and Black
Greek vases of the Luynes’ collection
Opening
October 28, 2013 I October 31, 2015
Place
BnF I Richelieu
Museum of Coins, medals and antiques
5, rue Vivienne - Paris 2e
Hours
Monday to friday 1p.m. > 4.45 p.m.
Saturday 11p.m. > 4.45 p.m.
Sunday 12 a.m. >6 p.m.
Closed on holidays
Free entrance
Curator
Cécile Colonna, conservator, department of Coins, medals and antiques, BnF
Coordination
Joël Cramesnil, department of exhibitions, BnF
Graphism
LD Publicité
Françoise Tannières and Jennifer Ward, BnF
Guided tours
Information and reservations +33 (0)1 53 79 49 49
Publication
De Rouge et de Noir
Les vases grecs de la collection de Luynes
128 pages, 150 illustrations
Éditions Gourcuff-Gradenigo
Price : 29 euros
Press contact
Claudine Hermabessière, Head of the press department and media partnerships
[email protected] - +33 (0)1 53 79 41 18 - 06 82 56 66 17
Lisa Pénisson, Press officer, [email protected] - +33(0)1 53 79 41 14
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Presentation
« By forming the small collection I now publish, I did not propose a scientific purpose; experience
had shown me that, the vases wearing curious subjects eventually become common, whereas
those whose drawing is pure, noble and true, will remain always rare and admired. I did not pride
to gather a large number; I met less than I hoped for it. »
Duc de Luynes, Description de quelques vases peints, 1840
For the first time in sixty years, the whole collection of Greek vases known as the famous Duke of
Luynes’ collection donated to the BnF in 1862, is presented at the Museum of coins, medals and
antiques. The didactic presentation of the whole collection is an opportunity to discover the taste of
one of the major 19th century collectors. The exhibition also allows to present the collection of Greek
pottery pieces, jewels of the BnF’s Department of coins, medals and antiques housing numerous
masterpieces and the second French public collection after the Musée du Louvre.
This exhibition intends to present one of the most famous French figures in the field of Greek archaeology, both a collector, major patron and true connoisseur. He spent a lifetime patiently building
up an homogeneous set of pieces that allow to discover the collector’s taste and sources of interest;
his acquisitions particularly disclose his great interest in the quality of drawings. This is why there are
so many Athenian classical ceramic pieces in his collections.
The whole collection also offers the opportunity to discover the ancient Greece, its mythology, gods
and heroes and the Athenians’ life of great thematic richness.
The Duke of Luynes
Honoré d’Albert, Duke of Luynes (Paris, 1802- Rome, 1867)
is a famous figure of the 19th century world of art. This aristocrat had an accomplished political career connected to a
wide variety of activities but, above all, he had a passion for
Antiquity. He even became a specialist in the field of ancient
history and archaeology. He took an active part in the birth
of scientific archaeology in Europe, financially supporting
magazines and publications. He could afford to build up an
outstanding collection of statues, ceramics, gems, jewels,
antique coins… At the end of his life, after his wife’s death,
he donated these pieces to the ‘Cabinet des Médailles’ of
the Bibliothèque Nationale so that they can be admired together with the royal collections.
The Greek vases constitute an important part of the
bequest. It also includes ancient beautiful clay dishes, particularly the ones made in Athens, unearthed in the 19th century during Italian archaeological excavations. Thanks to his
means, knowledge and taste, the duke was able to gather
the most beautiful objects discovered. This collection that
counts about a hundred vases can be considered as a perfect private collection as far as quality and iconography are
concerned.
Sébastien Cornu, Portrait du duc de Luynes (18021867)
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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The Greek vases
The vases of the Luynes’ collection allow to discover how the Athenian potters and painters mastered
their art to create one of the most sophisticated pottery production. Some of these vases and bowls
were used in everyday life but the most elegant ones were reserved for the elites. They were used
every day to store, transport, serve and drink especially the wine during banquets (symposion); but
they were also selected to pay tribute to the gods or accompany the dead in the grave. They were
so famous that they were exported all around the Mediterranean Sea, as far as the Italian Etruscan
cities.
The contrast between the red colour of the clay and the beautiful black glaze is almost enough to
compose the scenery; to achieve this, craftsmen only used mineral materials. A complex firing process in three stages consisted in opening and closing the kiln so that clay-covered parts could be
changed in a highly resistant glaze. The first vases were illustrated with black figures over an ochre
background; towards 530 B.C., the Athenians reversed the process, creating red figures over a black
background and adding painted details such as facial features or muscles.
Hydrie à figures noires, Guerriers, attribué au groupe de
Léagros, Athènes, 550-500 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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Sections of the exhibition
The Duke of Luynes and his collection
Honoré d’Albert, Duke of Luynes was both a great scholar with a passion for archaeology, numismatics, dead languages, a generous patron and a cautious collector. Several objects and coins will be
presented around the Duke’s portrait to give an idea of the rest of the collection donated to the Cabinet des médailles in 1862. This collection made up of about 7000 coins and one thousand antique
works can be compared to the Comte de Caylus’ collection donated to the Bibliothèque royale one
century before, or to the collection of the marquis Campana, that was acquired by Napoleon III and
enters the Musée du Louvre at the same moment.
Attic ceramics: a peak in the history of Greek ceramics
‘Greek vases’ traditionally mean the most delicate
ceramics decorated with figured scenes and created
in the ancient Greek world. They were used on various
occasions: most of them composed the dishes used
in banquets to serve and drink the wine; but some
pieces also contained a scented oil for body care.
Others were used as offerings or, during rites, to pay
tribute to the gods and the dead. The attic vases, that
form the core of the Luynes’ collection, were manufactured between the 6th and 4th century B.C. in Athens
that reaches at that time a pre-eminent position in the
artistic field and for a while a near monopoly in the
production of ceramics.
Some pieces will be especially chosen to show the
manufacturing techniques used to create these vases,
either with ‘black’ or ‘red’ figures, and the deeply black
and shiny glaze. Some vases, especially the ones used
for funerals, include simple decorations on a white
background.
The Duke of Luynes, who was also a great scholar,
tried to penetrate the mystery of the permanent black
glaze which manufacturing technique remained unknown. To this end, he created vases with red figures
among which a bowl that he donated with the rest of
his collection.
Amphore à figures noires (détail), Thésée combattant
le Minotaure, attribué au groupe de Londres B339,
Athènes, 550-520 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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Gods
Olympian Gods and others
The ceramics decorated with attic figures are very interesting because they are major sources of
information about numerous aspects of the Athenian life. In particular, they show how the Athenians
portrayed their gods and heroes. Because mythology is the main theme of Greek ceramics and the
numerous deities take on the most varied aspects.
Gods and goddesses are present in all moments of everyday life ; each deity is endowed with a specific personality and several fields of intervention. The major deities are the twelve Olympian gods,
portrayed with their specific attributes, individually or together.
A big attic crater found intact in Agrigente (Sicily) shows Poseidon, the God of the Sea, recognizable
by his trident, sitting majestically on the throne in front of Theseus.
Amphore à figures noires, Assemblée des dieux, attribuée
au groupe de Trois lignes, Athènes, 530-520 av. J.-C.
BnF, département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques/
CNRS- Maison Archéologie & Ethnologie René Ginouvès
Cratère attique à figures rouges (détail), Poséidon
et Thésée, attribué au peintre de Syriskos, Athènes,
vers 480 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Gods’ loves
Love affairs between gods or between gods and mortals is a long story. On attic ceramics, they are
most of the time illustrated by the image of a god or goddess running after the beloved.
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Dionysus’ world
Dyonisus, the God of wine, drunkenness, theatre and illusion, is everywhere on the vases essentially used for wine consumption. He advances surrounded with a cheerful procession, the
thiase, gathering menads and satyrs, half-men and half-horses, moving about. They all enjoy the
pleasures of drunkenness, love encounters, music and dance, in a sometimes wild type of frenzy.
Canthare à figures rouges, Satyres et ménades,
attribué au peintre de Penthésilée, Athènes, 470450 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Coupe à figures rouges, Dionysos musicien et satyres,
attribué au peintre de Brygos, Athènes, vers 480 av. J.-C.
BnF, département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Heroes
The vases show the fabulous achievements of numerous Greek heroes: Herakles of course, the
most famous and the only one welcome among the gods on Mount Olympus after his numerous
achievements; but also Perseus who beheads the Gorgon, Theseus who floors the Minotaur,
Oedipius or Orpheus, as well as the heroes of the Trojan war.
A piece of cup attributed to Douris shows for instance Ajax, wearing a high crested helmet that
reveals long locks of hair organized in a very graphic manner, and carrying the dead body of his
companion Achilles.
Coupe à figures rouges (fragment), Ajax portant
le corps d’Achille, attribué à Douris, Athènes, vers
480 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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Images of Athenian life
Athenian painters also chose to create images about the Greek everyday life.
Symposium
The Athenians meet at night to drink wine in a festive atmosphere ; festivities include singings,
dance and games but also declamation of poetry or philosophic talks. Only men attend the banquet. They are served by slaves, musicians or hetaerae (courtesans).
Rhyton en forme de tête de bœuf, Apulie, IVe siècle av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Athletics
Athletics is a major element of the Athenian upbringing. Every
citizen trains since his youth at the gymnasium to become
a kalos kagathos, a handsome and good man. The best athletes of each city regularly take part in the games, the most
famous being the Panhellenic games, in Delphi, Olympia…
Then, Nikè, the goddess of victory honours the winners who
so gain a near divine fame for themselves and their cities.
A small lecythus with decorations carved and painted over
the black glaze (technique called the ‘Six’ technique) shows
an athlete holding two javelins behind a horse rearing up: this
is an apobate, an armed athlete who does acrobatics during
the games.
Lécythe à décor surpeint, Apobate (athlète), attribué au
peintre de Diosphos, Athènes, fin du VIe siècle av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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Eros and seduction
Numerous vases illustrate more or less directly seduction relationships, mainly in scenes of
conversation and present offerings, either between a man and a woman or between men. Others
show women together in the gynaecium or getting ready…
War and warriors
The war universe is typically a male universe : the Athenian citizen is first of all a soldier who
defends his country during the omnipresent struggles of the Greek world. The soldiers’ clothes,
their departures or fights are illustrated on ceramics.
Coupe à figures rouges, Jeune cavalier, attribué au
peintre de Penthésilée, Athènes, 470-460 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Death
Funeral rites (viewing of the body, transport to the grave…) are very codified in the Greek world.
They are depicted on vases that often stay with the dead in their resting places.
Influences of Attic vases
The Duke of Luynes collected only a few vases made
out of Athens, in workshops strongly influenced by the
major production centre. They were selected for their
outstanding quality ; among others, the big Lucanian crater showing Ulysses evoking the manes of Tiresias and
the judgment of Paris on the opposite side are among the
most famous Greek ceramics worldwide.
Cratère lucanien à figures rouges, Ulysse consultant l’ombre de Tirésias, attribué au peintre de
Dolon, Métaponte, 390-380 av. J.-C.
BnF, dép. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
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Publication
De Rouge et de Noir
Les vases grecs de la collection de Luynes
Cécile Colonna
De Rouge et de Noir
Les vases grecs de la collection de Luynes
19,5 x 27 cm, 128 pages, 150 illustrations
Éditions Gourcuff-Gradenigo
Price : 29 euros
The Greek vases of the Luynes’ collection compose one of the most outstanding sets of figured
vases. These amazingly decorated works provide a wide variety of information about the Ancient
Greece for who knows how to understand their subtle iconographic language. They were gathered
by Honoré d’Albert, Duke of Luynes (1802-1867), one of the most famous figures in the world of arts
and archaeology in the 19th century. This aristocrat, who was also a scholar and a patron, had a real
passion for Antiquity ; he could afford to build up an outstanding collection of statues, vases, jewels,
coins… At the end of his life, he donated the whole of his collection to the ‘Cabinet des médailles’
of the Bibliothèque Nationale so that they can be admired together with the royal collections. Greek
ceramics compose a major part of the bequest : thanks to his means, knowledge and taste, the Duke
was able to gather the most beautiful objects that he could find.
This collection allows to discover how the Athenian craftsmen created one of the most sophisticated
pottery production in the 6th and 5th century B.C. The contrast between the red colour of the clay and
the beautiful black glaze is almost enough to compose the scenery. These vases, brought from Italy,
were used by the Greek and Etruscan elites, essentially in everyday life during banquets or for body
care. Some of them were also chosen to pay tribute to the gods or the dead. The iconography of an
undeniable aesthetic quality is a precious source of information that allow us to understand how the
Athenians show their gods and heroes ; Zeus, Dyonisus, Herakles or the heroes of the Trojan war are
portrayed alone or in the framework of certain mythical episodes. The painters also showed certain
aspects of everyday life: athletic games, war, funeral rites…
So, each vase allows to discover an aspect of the ancient life and beliefs. Gathered by the Duke of
Luynes, each of them tells us wonderful stories.
Online exhibition
Two albums will propose two thematic approaches allowing to discover and to see at home the
most beautiful images talking about gods and heroes.
http://expositions.bnf.fr/homere/albums/dieux/index.htm
http://expositions.bnf.fr/homere/albums/heros/index.htm
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