Exekias
One of the most famous Greek black-figure
vase painters was called Exekias (ex-EEK-ee-us). He was from Athens.
We know his name because he used to write it on his vases, "Exekias
painted this vase." Unfortunately, we don't know anything else about
him.
Based on the style of the vases he painted, Exekias lived about 540 BC.
He seems to have been very interested in balance and composition - making
sure that the people and things in his pictures were attractively arranged.
He liked to show the climax of stories - the most exciting moment.
In this picture, Theseus is killing the Queen of the Amazons. But just as he kills her, they fall in love.
You might think that a skilled artist like Exekias would be a rich man. But he probably was not. He may even have been a slave.
(For a vase-painting project, click here.)
To find out more about Greek black-figure vase painting, check out these books
from Amazon.com or from your library:
Ancient Greek Art, by Susie Hodge (1998)- for kids ages 9-12.
Athenian Black Figure Vases: A Handbook, by John Boardman (1985)
Understanding Greek Vases: A Guide to Terms, Styles, and Techniques (Getty Museum Publications 2002) by Andrew J. Clark, Maya Elston, Mary Louise Hart
