Vatican Museum - Art History

Chelsee Laine

AH 290

Linda Nolan

11/29/12

Art History Paper

Founded in the 16th century by Pope Julius II, the Vatican Museum hosts many different art collections that are open to the public, thus promoting the knowledge of art history and culture. There are many different museums and galleries to explore while visiting the museum ranging from Museo Pio-Clemntino to the Etruscan Museum to the Egyptian Museum. The Greek vases in the Etruscan Museum were exceptionally beautiful and detail oriented. Exekias, the artist of the attic black figure amphora, is able to illustrate a story of Achilles and Ajax during the Trojan War through his profound detail to the human form. Out of his signed works, this particular one was signed "Exekias egrapse kapoiese me" which translates into Exekias made and decorated me, which makes it that much more special.

The attic black figure amphora is in Room XIX, a collection of vases and attic ceramics with black figures and red figures. While the room holds about 8 large display cases, each case holds a different amount of vases. The black figure amphora is displayed only with one other vase. With two handles, the vase could be used for display or for storage. The black figure technique uses clay slip to paint black silhouettes and adds detail by creating linear cuts. The black surface is like paint, but is actually slip ware. Since they didn't have the technology to get the kiln ovens hot enough to create glaze, they would take fine particles of clay and suspend them in water. They would use that as paint and depending on the amount of oxygen, it could turn red or black. After painting the surface with the slip, they would shine it with a smooth surface like the back of the spoon by rubbing it back and forth, making it glossy like glaze. Standing about 2 feet high, this piece was created around 540-530 BC in Greece but found in Vulci, an Etruscan village that was later assimilated by the Roman Republic.

The actual artwork on the vase represents stories from the Homeric epic as Exekias typically used Greek mythology as an insight. There are two male figures, Achilles and Ajax, seen to be playing a game. Both men are very important warriors in the Iliad, a battle lasting 10 years where the Greeks try to take over Troy. In the heat of this important battle, it is interesting to see these two men taking a break to play a game while the fury of war is going on. With all the stress of battle, it seems strange that these two could look so calm, not knowing what could happen next. Although portrayed with a calm look, it almost seems weird for them to just take a break from the war, knowing they could go back into the battle and die. For example, imagine being in the war here in America, where soldiers have a family and a life back at home but never know when or if they will ever go back to it. How can one be so calm to just take a break and play a game, like nothing is wrong? In one light, it seems like it is their only escape to get away from real life for a moment, like Achilles and Ajax. But in another, it isn't real life and could be seen as a distraction from the battle at hand. However, Exekias grasps them in a moment at rest, not worrying about the battle in the future. He makes them more human like, where they just try to be carefree and take their minds off the stress for a little.

The details on the vase leave much to the imagination as there are many different ways to look at and figure out what it going on. With such a simple image, there is still so much going on. First of all, from the inscriptions, it is noted that Achilles has rolled a four and Ajax, a three, so it is said that Achilles was most likely winning the game. Also, they both have removed their shields and Ajax has removed his helmet, a sign of relaxation. They are both hunched over and seem really into the game at hand. However, there are a few subtle hints in the painting that Ajax may be a little tense. First of all, the way he is holding his sticks. Contrary to Achilles who is lightly holding his sticks which are crossed at the bottom, Ajax seems to be clenching his tightly since they are crossed at the bottom. Another sign of tension is his brow; two incised lines compared to Achilles' one incised line. Also, there is a difference in the position of the feet. Achilles seems to be more relaxed, his foot resting on the ground while Ajax's is slightly raised which means his muscles are occupied, a sign of tension in the body. Lastly, Ajax is a bit more hunched over than Achilles, his head bowed down further. All of these slight details mean something in this painting by Exekias. And to fully understand all these precise details, one must know about the life, the friendship, and the battle that Achilles and Ajax endured.

Although Exekias' painting was around 600 years after the Trojan War, he was still able to illustrate the history of that time and incorporate Greek mythology. First of all, Achilles was a major warrior in the Trojan War since he was invincible. When he was little, his mother dipped him in the river Styx, but held him by his heel, which wasn't protected. His heel was his weakness and ended up being the death of him, but not before dying a great hero. Ajax, on the other hand, lived a longer life with a dreadful fate. However, it should be noted that Exekias pays special attention to Ajax, who is represented in seven of his known works. Out of all his works, no war hero appears on more than Ajax. So Exekias had a special interest in Ajax even though he was second best to Achilles, which can tell onlookers that it isn't important to be the best all the time. After carrying his best friend Achilles off the battle field, he is then in a battle trying to win the armor of his best friend Achilles. His armor was special, made by the god Hephaestus and wanted by many. Although Ajax was much closer to Achilles than the other competitor, he ended up losing and not getting the armor of his best friend. After being upset by this loss, he ended up slaying many Greeks and later committing suicide on his own sword. Knowing this information before hand makes the painting even that much better. The detail put into the characters makes them look so noble and heroic, for they are in this huge battle at Troy, yet they can take a moment as friends and