Vases

Question 1

Eupronios Calyx Krater general knowledge

Answer 1

Calyx Krater (mixing vase)
Painter: Eupronios
Tradition: Pioneer
Style: Red Figure
Date: c510 BCE.

The Subject matter depicts Herakles and Anataeus wrestling. It is clearly a one of his later labors as shown by the club and lion skin on the left. Herakles was sent by Eurytheus to kill the giant son of Gaia and must separate him from the earth in order to kill him.

Question 2

What does the Pioneer Style focus on.

Answer 2

Realism through anatomies, movements, and emotions. There is emphasis on composition but Narrative can be used.

Question 3

How is composition shown in the Eupronios Calyx Krater

Answer 3

Women: Hands are proportionately sized, the dress bunches on a parabolic curve, and the barbaric women are pulling their hair out.
Herakles: on the balls of his bent feet (pushing movement), left calf is taught with a long striation line. striation line on his left quad
Anataeus: Abs are tensed to highlight his twisting movement, His arm is limp as seen by the hands.
Emotion: rolling eye and limp arm incinuates death, lips are slightly parted, woman is leaving (as seen by the way her arms face right, groomed hair vs long w/ thin slip. The different in Chiton and asakkos between the women.

Question 4

Exekias Belly Amphora General Knowledge

Answer 4

c540-530
Tradition: Black figure
Style: Grand
Belly Amphora (storage)

Obverse: Ajax and Achilles playing dice.
Reverse: The return of Castor and Polydeuces

Question 5

Describe the inscriptions on the Exekias

Answer 5

Obverse: Kalos behind Ajax, Exekias made me behind Achilles, Ajax and Achilles are named, above the board the scores are written.
Reverse: Everyone is named and another Kalos

Question 6

Describe the Achilles composition (Exekias)

Answer 6

Achilles is he dominant figure. He wears the Corinthian helmet and is dressed in a full suit of armour. This includes Corselet, greaves, thigh and arm guards. This shows he is more prepared for the fight about to unfold. He is on the left and winning 4-3

Question 7

Describe the Ajax composition (Exekias)

Answer 7

He is less prepared. He does not wear his helmet which makes him appear shorter. He also has hair added in clay opposed to having incised strands as an inferior technique. He is losing the match

Question 8

Describe the Mood on the Obverse of Exekias

Answer 8

Both heroes have slightly curved backs and are hunched over the board. They are perched on the balls of their feet and sitting on the edge of their seat to show they are about to launch at each other. Thus conveying the mood of drama and competition.

Question 9

Describe the Geometric Composition on Exekias obverse

Answer 9

The central figures form a triangle seat-seat-helmet
The spear-spear-board triangle bisects it. The resulting diamond highlights the focal point of the scene containing their (focused) eyes, scores, and hands playing. The black slip in the top and bottom brings emphasis to the Frieze

Question 10

Exekias Technical skill?

Answer 10

Horse plume hair is trailing down Achilles helmet, a bulge of leather corselet under the intricate cloak

Question 11

Composition of the reverse for Exekias

Answer 11

Polydeuces bends down to greet the family dog. He wears a heroic wreath. Queen Leda Greets her son Castor and offers him a lotus (icon of heroism) and myrtle twigs (icon of Aphrodite that conveys love from mother to son). King Tyndareus pets his horse. He mimics Leda’s gesture and provides symmetry. All three convey familial love. Right-left-middle in terms of depth to highlight that each event is happening separately and to create depth.