De Rouge et de Noir. les vases grecs de la collection de Luynes. Richelieu 5 rue Vivienne Paris 2 e 28 octobre janvier 2015 bnf.fr.

Transcription

1 légende De Rouge et de Noir les vases grecs de la collection de Luynes Richelieu 5 rue Vivienne Paris 2 e 28 octobre janvier 2015 bnf.fr BnF, dpt. des Monnaies, médailles et antiques

2 PRESS KIT Press release 3 Practical informations 4 Presentation 5 Sections of the exhibition 7 Publication 12

3 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 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 ( ), 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 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. 3

4 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 2 e 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) 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 claudine.hermabessiere@bnf.fr (0) Lisa Pénisson, Press officer, lisa.penisson@bnf.fr - +33(0)

5 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 19 th 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, Rome, 1867) is a famous figure of the 19 th 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 ( ) 5

6 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, av. J.-C. 6

7 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 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 6 th and 4 th 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, av. J.-C. 7

8 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, 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. 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. 8

9 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, av. J.-C. 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. 9

10 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, IV e siècle av. J.-C. 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 VI e siècle av. J.-C. 10

11 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, av. J.-C. 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, av. J.-C. 11

12 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 ( ), one of the most famous figures in the world of arts and archaeology in the 19 th 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 6 th and 5 th 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