Two Vases
The Amasis Painter
Amasis the Painterhad a unique styleprobably Egyptian because Amasis is a
Hellenised version of ‘Ahmosis’named after the potter, Amasis, who signed
some of his work with ‘Amasis made me’like Exekias, it is likely that Amasis painted
and potted his vessels, but since art historians cannot be sure, the artist has been coined with the modern name, the ‘Amasis Painter’
The Amasis Painter invented or was innovative in the following ways:
- he found a new way to depict female flesh – by painting the white slip straight onto the reserved clay area, rather than over the top of the black glaze as earlier artists had done
- he was the first to paint scenes from everyday life
Women Weaving
Vase One
Subject Matter
Label what each of the women are doing on the sketch of the whole scene.
Upper Frieze
Miniature figures of youths & girlsSignificance?
Seated woman may be a bride (because of the circular object she holds – the bride holds a similar object in the wedding procession vase) and is being approached by four youths (two from either side) who may be bringing wedding gifts
Between the friezes
Band of mirrored diamonds
Shape & SubjectWhat do you think this vase was used for
based on the subject matter and possibly the shape?
CompositionHow many friezes are there?Upper frieze composition? Main frieze
composition?Layout of figures?Number of groundlines?Overlapping?Symmetry?Use of space? Height of figures? Space aroundthe figures?
Painting TechniqueIncision?Remember Amasis’ innovation about
female flesh? Where would this have been (had it survived)?
Drapery, poses and eyesWhat is the drapery like on these women?How are the figures presented? (are they
facing you?)Where are their eyes looking?
Wedding Procession
Vase Two
SubjectUsing the Artus text, label each of the
figures and describe what each is doing.
Upper Frieze subject
Describe the scene – what is the scene? Who are seated? What are they doing? How many young girls are there? How are they positioned?
Overall CompositionDescribe the overall composition:
- number of friezes- motifs- bands
Upper Frieze CompositionLayout of figures?Number of groundlines?Overlapping?Symmetry?Use of space – height of figures? Space
around the figures?
Main Frieze CompositionLayout of figures?Number of
groundlines?Overlapping?
(depth)Symmetry?Use of space –
height of figures? Space around the figures?
Painting TechniqueWhat is the painting technique?What examples are there of this technique?
Drapery, poses & eyesDrapery:
- what are: chiton? Himation? Peplos?- how is the drapery painted? (detail? depth?)
How are the figures presented in their poses? (are they facing you?)
Where are the figures’ eyes looking?
Black Figure RevisionWhat techniques did Lydos use that show
his vase is later than the Francois?Exekias is considered the ‘height of black
figure’. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer in an essay-like paragraph.