Penthesilea Painter facts for kids

The Penthesilea Painter was a very talented ancient Greek artist who lived in Athens between about 470 and 450 BC. We don't know his real name. He is called the Penthesilea Painter because of a famous bowl he decorated. This bowl shows the Greek hero Achilles fighting and killing Penthesilea, who was a queen of the Amazons.

This artist was part of the Attic red-figure style of vase painting. This style used red figures against a black background. A famous art expert named John Beazley studied his work. He believed the Penthesilea Painter created 177 known vases. Most of these were bowls, but he also painted smaller items like drinking cups called skyphoi and kantharoi.

What Made His Art Special?

The Penthesilea Painter's art stands out because of his unique style. He often painted large figures that filled up the entire space on the vase. Sometimes, he would bend the figures to make them fit perfectly on the curved surface.

His paintings were also very colorful. He used many different shades, not just the usual red and black. He added colors like dark coral red, brown, yellow, yellow-white, and even gold. He was very careful with details, making his figures look incredibly lifelike. Unlike many other artists of his time, he usually painted all parts of his vases himself, including the smaller pictures on the outside.

What Did He Paint?

Most of the Penthesilea Painter's works show scenes from everyday life. He often painted boys and young men doing sports or learning. He also showed people with weapons and armor, or talking to horses.

Mythological stories, like those about gods and heroes, were rare in his work. Over time, he painted more and more scenes of daily life. This focus on human activities was new and very important for Greek vase painting. It helped other artists explore similar themes.

His Masterpieces

Besides the famous Penthesilea bowl, another one of his best works is "bowl 2689," also in Munich. This bowl shows the god Apollo killing Tityos, a giant from Greek myths. Even in his later works, where his style became a bit simpler, his paintings still had a special charm. This shows why he is considered one of the greatest masters of Greek vase painting.

Images for kids

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  Depiction of Penthesilea, on a bowl from Vulci; circa 470/460 BC. Munich, Staatliche Antikensammlungen.

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  An Attic Red-figure kylix from Ferrara, showing the Apotheosis of Theseus.

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  The Penthesilea bowl, showing Achilles killing Penthesilea.

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  A white-ground pyxis from New York, showing the Judgement of Paris.

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  Another view of the white-ground pyxis from New York.

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  A red-figure kylix from Paris, showing a horseman.

See also

In Spanish: Pintor de Pentesilea para niños