London E 424 (Vase)
Side A: Peleus accosting Thetis. Side B: Dionysos with Satyr and Maenad.
- ID:
- aa_4799
- Beazley Number:
- 230422
- Type:
- Vase
- Date:
- ca. -350 — ca. -340
- Period:
- Late Classical
- Context:
- From Kameiros
- Region:
- Dodecanese
- Painter:
- Attributed to the Marsyas Painter
- Dimensions:
-
H. 0.433 m.
- Ware:
- Attic Red Figure
- Shape:
- Pelike
Decoration Description
Side A: Peleus capturing Thetis. In the center crouches the nymph Thetis. She is nude, with a blue-green cloth draped over her knees. Her hair is bound up in a scarf. Peleus, to the left, grabs her right arm. He is also nude, except for a chlamys and a cap on his head. A sea monster has entwined itself around his right leg. Above and to the right of Peleus' head hovers Eros. These three main characters are surrounded by Nereids, who show various levels of surprise and fright at Peleus' appearance. The one on the far left wears a chiton with black border. She looks towards the main scene and raises her hand in fright. Above her to the right sits another Nereid. She wears a himation draped to leave her right arm and shoulder free, and her hair is pulled up in a scarf. She looks down more calmly on the scene. To the right of Thetis a woman in a black bordered chiton walks to the right, looking down at Thetis, while on the far right a nude woman crouches on the ground, holding her garment in her hands. Between these two, near the ground level, is a small leaping dolphin, while above, the last Nereid flees to the upper right hand corner of the composition. She is also nude, and carrying her garment. There is gold paint used for Peleus' hat, Thetis' hairband, and also some of Eros' wings. Blue is used for the remainder of the wings, green for drapery over Thetis' knees. Eros and Thetis have white skin.
Thetis was a sea nymph who could change her form, and to win her love, Peleus first had to capture her. He is shown here grasping her arm as she bathes at the seashore. The sea monster coiled around his leg was the artist's way of representing the nymph changing form. Brinkerhoff (91) says that "The crouching Thetis shows a turned head, a twist to her body, and a raised left leg on which the left elbow rests, all foreshadowing the position of the Hellenistic statue. . . " The pose of the fleeing nymph on the right was probably inspired by wall-painting.
Side B: Dionysos between a satyr and maenad.
The rim of the vessel is decorated with an egg and dart pattern, as is the neck just above the figural panel. The band below the panel is a maeander and check pattern.
- Collection:
- London, British Museum
Citations and Bibliography
JPGM Journal 6-7 (1978-1979) 83-96.
