Artist: Taleides painter

Title: Terracotta amphora

Date: 540-530 B.C.

Medium: terracotta; black figure

Provenance: metropolitan museum of art

Source:  Metropolitan Museum of Art

1. -There are five people in the painting and a minotaur. 

-Theseus aims a weapon at the minotaur. 

-There is a helmet on the floor. 

-The piece is painted on a jar. 

-There is a helmet on the floor of the painting.

2. Analysis of Elements of art/ Principles of design

Line: In this piece the artist utilizes lines to create shapes of the figures and parallel lines to divide the sections of this piece. 

Color: The hues used in this piece are red, orange, black, and white. The red and black appear to have high values, orange ranges somewhere in the middle, and white’s value is generally low. The colors all appear to be very intense with the exception of the black in the base of the vase which seems to be dulling. 

Value: The value of the colors in this pictures seems mostly high. 

Space: This piece has a lot of negative space. The painting on the vase only covers a fraction of the piece and the rest is plain black. 

Balance: The artist used balance in the number of attendants around Theseus as he kills the Minotaur. The even handles create a sense of symmetry. 

Emphasis: Theseus draws my eye in this piece because he is placed in the center and his garments are the only ones entirely red. 

Pattern: This piece uses pattern around the bottom of the vase in the repetition of lines. Also, there is pattern at the top of the positive space with an intricate pattern of shape and lines.

3. Interpretation 

Line in this piece shows the mood and intent. The sharp lines show the definition and stress in the bodies of the people. This informs a viewer of the stress of this moment, where Theseus is about to kill the Minotaur and the Minotaur’s fear of death. Personally, the lines make me suspenseful like the climax of a movie when you are not sure what will come next.  

4.Judgement 

I am drawn to this piece because of the colors and patterns. I really like the almost Indian style or Aztec style patterns on the skirts of the attendants even though the figures were intended to be Greek. The artist has created a piece that is visually pleasing on the eyes. Without being too graphic, the artist displays the intensity and importance of the murder of the Minotaur.