A BUFFALO Presentation ;)
ATTRIBUTION DETAILS
1. Name: Berlin Painter Volute Krater
2. When Made: 500-480 BC
3. Size: 65 cm in height
4. Potter: Unknown
5. Painter: The Berlin Painter
6. Why is he identified by this name: He never
signed his own name on his work, so they gave
him the name ‘Berlin Painter’. This name comes
from an amphora found in Berlin. This Volute
Krater is the same stylistically as that amphora.
THE SHAPE
1. Vase Shape: Volute Krater
2. What is it used for: Mixing wine and water at
symposium drinking parties.
3. What makes this krater different to other
types of kraters: The handles are different and
it is also very stylised
4. Why is this vase shape perfect for its use: It
has a larger belly and a wide mouth, so that
vessels can be dipped into it.
INSCRIPTIONS
1. What inscriptions are found on the vase:
The names of the characters/figures
2. Why are these inscriptions included: It is
part of narrative technique – naming the
characters helps the painter show what is
happening in the vase
THE SCENE
1. Who is the figure on the
right: Athena
2. What is she wearing
around her neck: She is
wearing her snake covered
aegis
3. Give two other ways she
can be identified:
A) Her spear
B) Her helmet
THE SCENE: SIDE A
4. Who are the two central figures in this scene: Achilles
and Hector
5. Who is standing on the far left: Athena
6. Who is standing on the far right: Apollo
7. What is the myth behind this scene: Achilles fights
Hector and is being watched by their two respective divine
patrons. In the scene shown, Achilles has already wounded
Hector and kills him. Achilles is then killed by Paris and
Apollo as revenge for the death of Hector and Troilus.
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
1. Give three examples of narrative
technique referring to the picture on the
right:
a) Raised feet indicate movement –
Apollo is leaving the doomed Hector and
waving farewell. The arrow is perhaps a
hint of the fate that awaits Achilles
b) Swirling drapery shows movement
c) Naming characters using inscriptions
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
2. Give three ways we can tell that
the figure on the left is losing the
fight:
a) Knees are bent as if stumbling
backwards
b) Blood is spurting from wounds
on his chest and leg
c) Depicted totally unprotected
with his shield twisted around
him of his shield
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
3. Give two ways you can tell
the figure on the right is going
to win the fight:
a) Raised feet, legs moving
forward, ready to attack
b) Interior view of shield
highlights Achilles, compared
to Hector appearing
deliberately weak because of
the placement
THE SCENE: SIDE B
4. Who are the two central figures in this scene: Achilles and
Memnon (Priam’s brother and King of Ethiopia)
5. Who is standing on the far left: Thetis the sea-nymph (Mother
of Achilles)
6. Who is standing on the far right: Eos the goddess of the dawn
(Mother of Memnon)
7. What is the myth behind this scene: After the death of
Achilles’ cousin Patroclus, Achilles closest companion was
Nestor’s son Antilochus. Memnon killed Antilochus so Achilles
sought revenge, as with Hector. The heroes’ mothers rushed to
Zeus, who weighed their destiny and found Memnon’s the
heaviest.
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
1. Give three examples of
narrative technique referring to
the picture on the right:
a) Hand gestures – Eos pulls her
hair out in anguish, realising her
son may die
b) Raised feet – moving towards
her son
c) Swirling drapery and emotional
realism
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
2. Give three examples of narrative technique
referring to just the two central figures:
a) Raised feet – indicating movement and
battle
b) Memnon holds up his shield to block
Achilles’ spear while preparing to strike
c) Achilles’ twisting ¾ pose indicates
movement
COMPOSITION
1. Where on the vase has
the painter placed the main
frieze: On the neck
2. How does that compare
to the decoration of the
Francois Vase: The Francois
Vase fills space, and groups
figures and uses
overlapping to create depth
COMPOSITION
3. What borders the scene at the top: A complex mirrored
lotus and palmette chain – contrasts with the earlier black
figure examples, and with those of Euphronios.
4. What borders the scene at the bottom: A singular ground
line with a tongue pattern
5. Make three points not already mentioned about the
composition of this scene:
a) Figures are set in W shape which mimics the shape of
the vase. This is emphasised by the clashing of spears on
the opposite side.
b) The positioning of shields helps give depth and a 3D
effect
c) The scene is symmetrical on both sides – the ¾ pose of
Achilles is mirrored
COMPOSITION
6. What are two examples of non-figural
ornamentation that have not already been referred
to and what is their purpose:
a) The vessel shows a reversal of the major artistic
trend – no decoration on the body except for a
coating of shiny black glaze, and a band of stylised
rays at the base of the belly.
b) Compared to the Kleophrades Painter Hydria which
has a complex scene with many figures over a large
proportion of the vase.
COMPOSITION
7. In terms of the use if black slip, what makes
this vase typical of this painter: Large areas of
black slip without decoration are typical to
The Berlin Painter
8. In terms of the use of the black slip, why is
this vase not typical of this painter: Other
vases by The Berlin Painter feature singular
figures spotlight on a plain black background,
without the framing of supporters of patterns.
COMPOSITION
9. What are three similarities in composition
between side A and side B:
a) Two central figures are engaged in battle
with their supporters framing them
b) W shape of figures on both sides, which also
mimics the shape of the volute kraters
c) The figures sit on a single ground line
PAINTING TECHNIQUE
1. What painting technique is used on
this vase: Red-figure technique
2. Describe this painting technique using
the following headings, referring
specifically to the picture on the right
a) Black Slip: The figures were painted
with a relief line first
b) Background: The background was then
painted with a black slip
c) Dilute honey-coloured glaze: Honeycoloured dilute glaze is used for shading
d) Added colour – red slip: Red slip used
for blood
e) Added colour – purple slip:
PAINTING TECHNIQUE
3. In terms of paining technique, what is the
major difference in the way women are
painted in red figure compared to black figure:
Dilute slip was also used for detail on the
shields, Achilles’ hair, detailing the
musculature and painting the major muscles.
In black-figure vases women were painted
white, while in red-figure women are painted
in the same way as men
THE END 
BUFFALO!!!