Hellenistic art
The Hellenistic period is that of the decline of painting on vases.  The most common vases are black and uniform, with a shiny appearance approaching that of varnish, decorated with simple motifs of flowers or festoons.  It is also the period when vases in relief appeared, doubtless in imitation of vases made of precious metals:  wreaths in relief were applied to the body of the vase, or again the one shown here received veins or gadroons.  One finds also more complex relief, based on animals or legendary creatures.  The shapes of the vases are also inspired by the tradition of metal:  thus with the lagynos (pictured here), a wine jar typical of the period.