Euphronios - Sarpedon Krater - Metropolitan Museum of Art -Trojan War Theme For Sale

Euphronios - Sarpedon Krater

The original item is locatedinMetropolitan Museum of Artin NewYorkTheEuphronios krater(orSarpedon krater) isanancient Greekterra cottakrater, a bowl used formixingwine with water. Created around the year 515 BC, it is the only completeexample of the surviving 27 vases painted by therenownedEuphroniosand is considered one of the finest Greekvaseartifactsin existence. The krater is decorated with two scenes. Anepisode from theTrojan Waris shown on theobverse, thisillustration depicts the death ofSarpedon, son ofZeusandLaodamia. Thereverseof the krater shows a contemporaryscene ofAthenianyouths from the 6th century BC arming themselvesbefore battle. In the scene of Sarpedon's death, thegodHermesdirects thepersonificationsof Sleep (Hypnos)and Death (Thanatos) to carry the fallen away to his homeland for burial. Whilethe subject of Sarpedon's death might normally be depicted as a stylizedtableau, the figures in this scene are painted in naturalistic poses and withschematic but accurate anatomy. This style is emblematic of thePioneerGroupoflate Archaicpainters, of whom Euphronios is consideredthe most accomplished. The scene of the anonymous Greek youths on the reverseshares this naturalistic style, using all the Pioneer Group's characteristictechniques of anatomical accuracy, natural poses, foreshortening, and spatialillusion. Also characteristic of the Pioneer Group is the narrative tensioncreated both by pairing these two scenes on the same piece, and by paintingthem in a common style. The death of Sarpedon, a quasi-mythological story whichwould be familiar to anyone viewing the krater, is an episode involvingspecific historical and mythological figures. The other scene, of the anonymousyouths preparing for war, is both more general and explicitly contemporary. Theyoung men are not heroes of legend; with their finely detailed features, theyare given personality and character, but they could be any of the youthfulsoldiers in the Greek army. Both scenes are painted with similar styles, makingthe historical scene appear more contemporary; likewise, the contemporary scenebegins to share some of the other's mythological qualities. The two scenesinvite comparison between the narratives they depict; certainly, the heroSarpedon was no less youthful than these anonymous boys, and Death and Sleepmay well come for them as they did for him. The vase is signed both byEuxitheos aspotterandEuphroniosaspainter. Whileit was customary for the painter to sign the finished work, it was less commonfor the potter to add his own name. The presence of both signatures indicatesthat Euxitheos felt the vase to be one of his finest works. Besides theartists' signatures on the obverse side, it also carries the inscription"Leagros is handsome." on the reverse. This inscription has allowedart historians to date the krater to approximately 520-510 BC, because at thistime Leagros was considered the handsomest man in Greece. All names are writteninAttic letters.The colors are very simple, natural pigments thatcould have easily been found in nature and utilized by the Ancient Greeks. Itwas Hand made in Greece, diameter size is approximately 10 inches.Ourclay items are Hand made, Hand painted and not fastly made, nor are theycheaply made of substitute materials such as resin. We stick to the materialsand methods used by ancient Greeks and use only top quality ceramics andpaints.Do not expect "perfection" as if these clay vases wasnot mass produced from a machine like many are, but by hand.

Vase Details:

Condition:New, Handmade inGreece.

Material:Clay

Diameter Size:26cm (10")

Note that sizes may vary a little causeeverything is Hand Made

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