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.