Captured in the interior of this large drinking cup is the very moment when Achilles and Penthesilea (the Amazon queen) meet on the battlefield at Troy. They fall in love, tragically, just as Achilles fatally stabs her.
This representation is special on all sorts of levels, but primarily because of the way the painter has shown their gazes locked – the pale irises of Penthesilea’s beseeching eyes and those of a somewhat stunned Achilles aligned. His sword pierces her heart, while her left hand scrabbles up to slow his thrust and the other reaches towards his face beseechingly.
The details of the pair are incredible: she, with beautifully coiffed fair hair and jewellery in added clay (and presumably also once gilded); he: helmet with cheekpiece adorned by striding griffin, the lush horsehair crest intersecting the tondo’s border, and shock of dark curls escaping onto his shoulder.
Masterful attention has been paid to the composition as a whole: the central pair is framed, bracing themselves against the curved groundline. To the right a slain amazon is slumped over (in fancy leggings), her body following the circular edge of the tondo.
Attributed to the Penthesilea Painter by Beazley (this is his name vase). Munich Antikensammlung; found in Vulci.
