White text: p.

47-48
Black text: p.51-55

MAKRONSkyphos
Makron
Makron was one of the most
important, and probably the most
prolific of all the Red-Figure artists.
Over 600 vases have been attributed
to him in his career during the 480s-
470s BC. He most often painted
Kylikes and Skyphoi. He worked with
Hieron on over 30 vases.

Makron is significant because of the

effort he took to make his drapery
Shape: Skyphos, a deep Potter: Hieron
drinking cup
Technique: Red-Figure
Function: Drinking wine
Date: 490-480 BC
Painter: Makron
Dimensions

Height: 21cm
Inscriptions
• All figures have their names painted
beside them in purple slip.
• Both potter and painter signed their
names.
• Makron’s name is under one of the
handles.
Decoration Overview
This vase shows a step towards
naturalism. Makron was very interested in
showing as much detail as possible, and
was particularly good at showing folds in
women’s drapery.
Also, Makron borders his frieze with a
regular meander border.
 Side A
The Abduction of Helen
The Myth
Helen was the daughter of Zeus
and Queen Leda of Sparta. She
was said to be the most beautiful
woman alive and most of the
princes of Greece wanted to
marry her.
Her stepfather, King Tyndareus
of Sparta, was worried that
quarrels between the suitors
would lead to war. Odysseus
Tyndareus made all the suitors
swear that they would protect
Helen’s marriage, whoever it was
with. Thus satisfied, he gave her
to Menelaus, who became the
next King of Sparta.

Helen and Menelaus had at least

one child together until, one day,
Paris of Troy arrived in Sparta.
Paris (also known as Alexander)
was the youngest son of Priam
and Hecuba of Troy. Just before
his birth, Hecuba had a dream in
which her new son turned into a
firebrand which caught hold and
destroyed the city.
Another of Priam’s sons, who
could interpret dreams, said that
this new baby was born for the
ruin of Troy and should be left to
Priam gave his son to a shepherd,
who left him to die, but a she-bear
found him and suckled him. The
shepherd came back to find the child
still alive and decided to bring him
up.
Years later, Paris visited Troy and
was recognised by his sister
Cassandra, before being welcomed
back into the family by his father,
Priam.
One day, while Paris was watching
Hermes brought three the goddesses
Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. They
were contesting for possession of an
apple, inscribed “For the fairest”,
which had been thrown among the
guests at the wedding of Thetis and
Peleus.
Eris (Strife) had not been invited and
the resulting argument was too tricky
for Zeus to get involved with. Paris
was chosen as the man to make the
decision.
The three jealous goddesses were
anxious to win the prize, and all
offered Paris bribes to win his favour:
– Hera promised him sovereignty over all
men.
– Athena promised victory in war and
wisdom.
– Aphrodite promised him the hand of the
most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite, and
set sail for Sparta, where Helen lived
with her new husband, Menelaus.
Menelaus welcomed Paris and
entertained him for 9 days, but when
he was absent in Crete on the 10th,
Paris abducted Helen and took her
back to Troy.
This is the origin of the Trojan War,
which began when Menelaus
reminded the Greek kings about their
oath to protect the marriage of
Helen, and raised a huge Greek army
to attack Troy in order to win her
back.
The Boys

Paris’s legs are wide apart, suggesting

A
movement. He too is looking back over servant
Paris’ companion, Aeneas. his shoulder, as if he might be being stands
He is armed with a spear and pursued, and he leads Helen by the under
shield, and leads the party, wrist not the hand. He wears a
one
handle.
looking back over his Corinthian helmet, but not as it would
shoulder. be worn in battle
 Helen is the central Helen is accompanied
The Girls figure, being led by Paris by two maidservants

The first maidservant is

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, The second maidservant is
who is putting a cloak over called Peitho (persuasion). She
Helen’s head to disguise her. stands, watching the abduction,
holding flowers in her hand.
Finally:

Eros, son of Aphrodite, is also

present. This reinforces the notion
that Helen is going with Paris due to
seduction not abduction.
Composition 1

Aeneas and The important figures are Aeneas and

Peitho frame painted in the centre of the frieze. Peitho frame
the central the central
trio trio
Composition 2

The male figures are moving The female figures are static
Composition 3

The narrative moves right to left

Overlapping

Single groundline

All the figures shown on the vase are overlapping. Since they are so close together
and the drapery is so similar, Makron has a difficult job to make each figure distinct,
but he succeeds. This creates a sense of depth.
 Side B
Menelaus reclaims Helen
The Myth
After eleven years of war, Troy was
defeated.
Paris and Hector were killed in the
10th year of the war.
The Greeks used a huge wooden
horse to get inside the city, and Troy
was destroyed while its people were
killed or taken captive. Only Aeneas
and Antenor escaped.
The Boys

Kriseus, an Menelaus, King of Sparta, is The elderly Priam sits

old man with portrayed fully armed. He is drawing on an elaborate
a realistic his sword, about to attack his throne underneath
white beard unfaithful wife. the handle. He is
balding and a light-
coloured slip
suggests grey hair
The Girls

Aphrodite, Helen’s Helen flees towards Aphrodite,

The second maidservant, holds but looks back over her
maidservant, her arms open shoulder at the angry Menelaus
Kriseis, is towards Helen.
ready to help
Composition 1

Kriseus and The important figures are Priam is

Kriseis are painted in the centre of the frieze. an
onlookers onlooker
Composition 2

These figures mimic the

These figures mimic the pose
pose of Aeneas and Paris
of the static figures on Side A
on Side A
Composition 3

The narrative moves right to left

Overlapping

Single groundline

Again, all the figures are overlapping. Makros creates a sense of depth by painting
Menelaus behind his shield.
Height of the figures
All figures are the same height – filling the height of the
vase – except two.
Priam and the boy both fit neatly underneath the handles
on either side.
the himation, a cloak, usually of wool

• himation was an
elegant, everyday
garment worn by men
and women

• woman’s version was

lighter in size

• could be worn draped

around the body,
variety of different
manners.
The doric Chiton, a short or long tunic
• much lighter, made
from linen, than the
himation

• usually worn next to

the skin

• comfortable and easy

to wear, and elegant

Linen’s transparency allows the artist

• fashionable during to show anatomy underneath the
red-figure period material
 The ionic chiton
• wide rectangular piece
of cloth, worn to the
ankle

• elegant drapes and

evenly pleated

• had coloured
garments for festive
occasions, long and
white worn by
respectable women
Drapery
• Makron was particularly skilled at
showing the details of drapery.
• His drapery shows amazing detail and
accuracy.
• Lines close together indicate fine
material, while heavier material is shown
by lines further apart.
• He then added depth and texture by
painting another layer of glaze on top to
suggest 3-D.
• The drapery swells to suggest
movement.
• Material folds end in curving zig-zags, not
straight lines.
• Not all material folds end in zig-zags –
see the cloak between Paris’ legs on Side
Makron’s artistic skills
• all figures close to one • consistent curves at
another and they the end of drapery,
overlap, yet we can swelling of drapery
distinguish each one expresses movement

• skilled drawing allows • Anatomy painted in

us to distinguish slip under drapery,
between chitons with interest in how the
their closely drawn body moves
lines & the more
widely spaced lines of
the himation
Painting technique
• Makron uses dilute glaze to add
details:
– Women’s hair
– The Lion on Aeneas’ shield
– Aeneas’ and Paris’ sandals

See Black text

Plates 11 and 12