Greek Vase Painting UB Essay Topics

2002

Mini-essays

• Discuss the decoration techniques and stylistic characteristics of Lydos' painting with reference to the column krater depicting Hephaestus' return to Mt Olympus.
• Discuss the function and subject matter of the Achilles Painter's lekythos. Describe the decoration and stylistic techniques used to paint this vase. Provide examples to illustrate your answers.

Essay

What methods did Athenian red figure painters use in order to create naturalistic paintings? Answer this with reference to the work of TWO of the following painters:
Euphronios, the Berlin Painter, the Meidias painter.

You might wish to consider the following:

• portrayal of figures and facial features
• different poses
• treatment of drapery
• interest in depicting movement
• overlapping.

2001

Mini-essays

• Describe at least THREE of the myths shown on the Francois vase. What techniques has the painter used to depict them?
• What techniques did the Kleophrades Painter use in an effort to achieve realism on the pointed amphora?  Provide examples to illustrate your answer.

Essay

Why is Exekias considered to be the best of the black figure painters? Answer this with reference to the kylix and the belly amphora.

2000

Mini-essays

Describe the decorative techniques involved in the production of white-ground vases with reference to the Penthesileia  Painter pyxis. 
How does the decoration relate to other forms of art?

“Euphronios was the greatest of “The Pioneers”, a group of early red-figure artists who were renowned for their interest in the depiction of the human form and of human movement.”  (J. Campbell). 
Discuss this statement in relation to Euphronios’ calyx krater. 

Which aspects of the Trojan war did the Kleophrades Painter emphasis on the hydria of 490-480BC?  How effectively has he done so?

Essay

How did vase painters arrange their compositions to suit the space available to them?  Answer this by referring to at least THREE of the following vase paintings:

• Exekias’ kylix
• The Amasis Painter’s weaving lekythos
• Makron’s skyphos
• The Niobid Painter’s calyx krater

1999

Mini-essays

• Describe the stylistic characteristics of Lydos’ painting with reference to ONE of his works
• What are the features of Mannerist vase painting?  Discuss these in relations to any ONE work of the Meidias Painter.
• Describe the decorative and firing techniques involved in the production of Exekias’ kylix.  Explain what is unusual about this decoration of this vase.

Essay

Compare and contrast the styles of Euphronios and Euthymides, with reference to their vase paintings.

1998

Discuss the treatment of the human form in both black-figure and red-figure Greek vase paintings, by referring to specific vases. 

The krater was a popular shape of vase with painters of the 6^th and 5^th centuries BC.  Discuss how painters used the available space by referring to at least THREE of the following kraters:

• Francois (volute krater)
• Lydos (column krater)
• Euphronios (calyx krater)
• Berlin Painter (volute krater)
• Niobid Painter (calyx krater)

1997

Discuss the works of Exekias with reference to at least TWO specific examples.  Outline the reasons by Exekias is considered the greatest craftsman of the Black Figure period.  You must give specific examples from the vases you have studied to support your claims. 

To what extent were Athenian vase painters interested in depicting scenes of action and activity?  How convincingly did they portray such scenes?  You must give specific examples from the vases you have studied to support your claims.

1996

How did Athenian vase painters arrange their composition to suit the space available to them?  You must give specific examples from the vases you have studied to support your claims.

Compare and contrast the belly amphora by Euthymides with the Niobid Painter’s calyx krater.  What development can be seen?  You must refer to specific details of the vases in your answer.

1994

Compare and contrast the Francois vase with the Meidias Painter hydria.  (You must refer to the specific vases and their features of decoration in your answer.)

Describe the White Ground technique.  How did it differ from the Black Figure and Red Figure techniques?  (You must refer to specific vases and their features of decoration in your answer.)

1993

What potential difficulties or questions did the decoration of large kraters present to vase painters of the 5^th and 6^th centuries BC?  How did the painters attempt to come to terms with these concerns?  You must refer to the works of at least three different painters.

What criteria can be used to assess the artistic merit of Athenian red-figure vases?  Select two red-figure vases that you have studied and assess the merits of each in the light of your criteria.