Note 110 — Chapter II · THE INFLUENCE OF GREEK TRAGEDY ON VASE PAINTING.

The Penelope vase, pub. Mon. d. Inst. ix. pl. 42 = Baumeister’s Denkmäler, iii. no. 2332, has lately been explained by Robert as being based on Soph. Νίπτρα. Cf. Die Marathonschlacht in der Poikile, p. 78 ff. If I could accept this view my position would be very materially strengthened. The Νίπτρα must be set cir. 428 B.C., and this means that the painting is later than this date. Much as I should like to bring this important monument into connexion with the drama, I cannot think of a later date for the vase than 440 B.C., which to be sure renders its relation to Sophokles impossible. If, however, Professor Robert be correct, it shows that there is at least one vase painting of the fifth century that represents a form of a myth which belonged to the theatre, and this was not granted in Bild und Lied.