[[Image:Hermes Io Staatliche Antikensammlungen 585.jpg|thumb|[[Amphora#Belly amphora (c. 640–450 BC)|Belly amphora]] by the Northampton Group. Shoulder A: liberation of [[Io (mythology)|Io]] (in the shape of a cow) by [[Hermes]]. [[Munich]]: [[Staatliche Antikensammlungen]].]] [[Image:Kentauroi Staatliche Antikensammlungen 585.jpg|thumb|Belly amphora in Munich, Side B: [[centaur]]s.]] The '''Northampton Group''' was a stylistic group of [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] [[amphorae]] in the [[black-figure vase painting|black-figure style]].
With the exception of a single [[Amphora#Belly amphora (c. 640–450 BC)|belly amphora]], the vases of the Northampton Group are exclusively [[neck amphora]]e. Stylistically, they are very close to [[Ionian vase painting|North Ionian vase painting]]. However, they were probably not produced in [[Ionia]], but in [[Italy]] ([[Etruria]]). They date to about 540 BC. The vases by the Northampton Group are products of very high quality. They feature rich ornamental decoration and sometimes interesting imagery, such as a mounted prince and men mounted on [[crane (bird)|cranes]]. They are stylistically closely related to the [[Campana dinoi]]. The clay of Northampton Group vases is similar to that of [[Caeretan hydria]]i and shows no indication of an East [[Mediterranean]] origin.
The Group's name is derived from the [[Northampton Amphora]], one of the most famous pieces in the collection of [[Spencer Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton]], who was president of the [[Royal Society]] from 1838 to 1848. From 1820 to 1830 he had lived in Italy, where he acquired most of his collection of over 160 ancient vases, including 52 black-figure amphorae.<ref>[[Eduard Gerhard|Friedrich Wilhelm Eduard Gerhard]]: ''Vasen des Lord Northampton''. Archäologische Zeitung, 4, Col. 340-342, Berlin, 1848</ref> Roughly at the same time, excavations began at the necropolis of [[Vulci]], from where to amphorae of the group entered the [[Staatliche Antikensammlungen]] at [[Munich]]. Although Lord Northampton supported the excavations financially, it is not known whether the Northampton Amphora itself is from that site. [[Eduard Gerhard]] was the first archaeologist to describe some of the vases in Northampton's collection, while on a visit to Rome. After the Lord's return to England, the vases were placed in his residence at [[Castle Ashby]]. By the beginning of the 20th century, they were displayed publicly. In 1980, his descendants auctioned the collection off at [[Christie's]].<ref>[[John Boardman (art historian)|John Boardman]]: ''Greek, Etruscan and South Italian Vases from Castle Ashby. The property of the Marquess of Northampton which will be sold at Christie's Great Rooms on Wednesday 2 July 1980.'' Auction Catalogue, Christie's, London, 1980</ref> At the time, the Northampton Amphora was sold for 415,360 US Dollars.
==References== {{reflist}}
==Literature== * [[Thomas Mannack]]: ''Griechische Vasenmalerei. Eine Einführung''. Theiss, Stuttgart 2002, {{p.|132}}. {{ISBN|3-8062-1743-2}}. * Matthias Steinhart: Schwarzfigurige Vasenmalerei II. Ausserattisch, In: [[Der Neue Pauly]], vol 11, cols 276-281. {{Greek vase painters}} {{Commons category|Northampton group }}
[[Category:Ancient Greek vase-painting styles]]