Dodwell Painter

Who is Dodwell Painter?

The Dodwell Painter was an ancient Corinthian vase painter in the black-figure style; his real name is unknown. He was active during the Middle and Late Corinthian periods; his works are dated to between 580 and 570 BC.

The Dodwell painter was one of the most important Corinthian vase painters of his time. He decorated mainly pyxides and oinochoai, but also neck amphorae and hydriai. He painted most of his vases with friezes of animals or horsemen. Of exceptional importance is a pyxis in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen at Munich, known as the Dodwell Pyxis. On the lid, it depicts the hunt for the Calydonian Boar as well as several other figures from Greek mythology not connected with that motif, including Agamemnon. The figures are named by added inscriptions, not all of which appear appropriate to the figures they accompany. Another important piece is at the Villa Giulia in Rome. The olpe depicts a frieze with several komasts dacing around a krater; a second frieze shows Herakles fighting the Hydra. Usually his paintings show much routine, but lack precision. About 70 vases are ascribed to him; and according to Darrell A. Amyx, another ten painters can be described as his circle. They, too, mainly painted pyxides and oinochoai with animal friezes. Additionally, several successors were influenced by the Dodwell Painter.