observational analysis of the object to unearth more about the artwork and identify the link between the Etruscan Hellenistic period artwork and Roman or Greek art

 observational analysis of the object to unearth more about the artwork and identify the link between the Etruscan Hellenistic period artwork and Roman or Greek art

The Etruscan red-figure spouted jar or lebes with two female heads is a strikingly wheel-thrown, slip-painted, medium-sized earthenware that was made in Etruria, Italy. However, the exact findspot is unknown and dates back to about 300 BC. The specific dimensions of the artwork are 17.6 x 19.1 x 14.2 cm, and the particular object number is 923.13.4, and it is a gift of the members of the Royal Ontario Museum. Therefore, this paper will provide a careful and comprehensive observational analysis of the object to unearth more about the artwork and identify the link between the Etruscan Hellenistic period artwork and Roman or Greek art.

The red and black spouted jar is covered with several curved, angular, and thick lines at the top region while it has one large handle and two smaller handles positioned opposite each other. Across the circumference of the jar is a striking carving of the image of two female heads facing each other, hence the name lebes with two female heads. The surface quality of the object is textured in the upper part but smooth on the lower region that rests on a flat bottom. On scrutiny, the jar has a contrast of a dark and light colour that alternates in different areas. Moreover, the space or interaction with the viewer presents a three-dimensional artwork. With a relatively thick volume and a medium size, the artwork depicts a specific period that traces back to the Etruscan Hellenistic period when such artworks were common because artists carved their artworks using metals, but in most cases, hardened clay was used to make such vessels for functional or ornamental purposes. Symmetrically, the artwork has a non-uniform balance because it is wider in the middle region and tapers to a slimmer shape towards the base.

The front side of the jar assumes a spouted appearance that highlights its uniqueness and is a feature that can be associated with the artwork of the Hellenistic Period when their vases and jars were designed with unique markings or features that made them stand out among other artworks from other regions. The specific dimensions differ in weight and proportions because the width is uneven and is less proportional to the height or the circumference of the base and the top of the spouted jar. Another unique feature is that the jar has a naturalistic appearance that can be associated with its origin and the material that was used, which appears to be hardened clay that is reinforced with a metal component for more strength.

A unique aspect of the quality of the sculpture is its distinctiveness and relevance to its production period, where the creativity maintained and strength associated with artwork was highly maintained and characteristic of a specific period. As a collection from the Greek world, the majority of its features, such as the dimensions, contrast, the material used in making similar types of artworks which is earthenware and the shape typical in most vessels represent a specific period in the history of Roman art. Again, the artwork has a special form of marking or identifiable features that were mostly known and used by the Greek artists. Thus, the formal elements observed about the artwork contribute immensely to these qualities of uniqueness, distinctiveness, and association with the Etruscans as their artwork because of the visible features that correspond to those observed in other similar artwork. Additionally, these elements have a significant connection to the subject matter or supposed meaning, which is Roman or Greek art, which is primarily stored in museums today because the artwork was retrieved from Etruria during the 300 BC period. During that specific time, it was common practice for Etruscans to borrow a large percentage of Greek art features and incorporate it into their work.

The object’s stylistic character can be compared to other artworks made during the same period of art to which it belongs. Greek/Roman artworks have unique aspects that archaeologists could use in classifying objects according to their places of origin and the period when they could have been discovered or produced. The evident similarities between the object and other identical artefacts are consistent with the key features of most Roman/Greek artwork as the Etruscans date back to an ancient Italic culture, and much information about them can be drawn from their art records as their works illustrate a culture rich in artistry. The most successful artworks were pottery, and during the Etruscan Hellenistic period, most of the artwork was characterised by a shiny and black surface with various shapes that correspond to the artwork in the analysis. Most of the popular artwork during that period consisted of finely painted vases that had a tinge of Greek art. The majority of the artwork during the period was rich in copper and iron because the region was rich in metals, and just like the artwork at the museum, there are noticeable aspects of a metal such as iron added in small amounts to the vase. However, copper and iron were used more than earthenware during the ancient Greek period, and that differentiates the observed object from other artworks produced within the same period.