12. BERLIN PAINTER - VOLUTE KRATER

Date: 500-480 BCType: Volute Krater - Red-figurePotter: UnknownPainter: "Berlin Painter". He is named from an amphora which he painted, and which is now held in West Berlin.Height: 65 cmsSubject: Side A: Achilles fighting Memnon of Ethiopia Side B: Achilles fighting Hector the Trojan.

The subject of the illustration on side B is the same as the previous one -The Trojan War - but it is dealt with in a very different way. You should consider the contrasts between the two as we progress.

Comparisons / Contrasts with the Kleophrades Painter Hydria include:1) Only four figures on each side2) Greater amount of free space3) Two distinct (though related) scenes4) Linear structure (cf pyramidal)

Subject matter

Achilles fighting Memnon from Ethiopia, watched by their respective mothers, Thetis and Eos. Achilles shield has an armband, hand grips and 4 tassels. Memnon's has a bull blazon, a sword in his hand and another in his scabbard. Achilles' cheek guard is down, Memnon's is up. We can tell that Memnon is in trouble because his mother is grasping her hair. The fact that they are both nude confirms their heroic status: mortals would have been armoured!

Side A:

Achilles fighting Hector, watched by their respective patron deities, Athena and Apollo. Hector has already been wounded, hence his stance. The arrow Apollo (to the right of Hector) holds will eventually kill Achilles.

Side B:

Composition

Body of the vase is almost completely black: there is a small band of rays near the base. Only the neck and handles are decorated. The effect of this is to direct the attention of the viewer to the neck where the frieze is. It is framed above by stylised lotus and palmette chain, and below by a tongue pattern. The structure is very much linear, with the outside figures on each frieze directing attention to the main action. Note also the sense of balance achieved by the positions of each of the characters.

Space

• Space suggested by turns of the figures• Thickness of drapery shown by closely spaced lines, suggesting fine fabric.• Wider-spaced lines suggest heavier fabric. Fabric ‘swings’ to suggest movement.

Anatomy and Movement

• Excellent understanding of anatomy and the way it is used for narrative• Figures slender, elegant, athletic• Variety of viewpoints used (profile, frontal, three-quarters).• Foreshortening used to suggest movement, eg, in the dual between Achilles and Hector. Achilles clearly the winner, strides forward, weight on his front foot, arm pulled back ready to thrust his spear. Hector steps back, off balance, spear pointing downwards, blood streams from his side.• Figures display convincing turns of the human body• Warriors are nude to represent their heroic status.

• Line used very sparingly. Images kept pure and linear.• Dilute slip used for stomach muscles, but many muscles painted in full strength to show tautness

Features of style