The black-figured ware continued to be produced in
Attica through the sixth century and on into the fifth.
Fig. 190 gives a specimen of the work of an interesting
vase-painter in this style, Execias by name, who
probably belongs about the middle of the sixth century.
The subject is Achilles slaying in battle the Amazon
queen, Penthesilea. The drawing of Execias is
distinguished by an altogether unusual care and
minuteness of detail, and if the whole body of his work,
as known to us from several signed vases, could be here
presented, it would be easily seen that his proficiency
was well in advance of that of Clitias. Obvious
archaisms, however, remain. Especially noticeable is the
unnatural twisting of the bodies. A minor point of
interest is afforded by the Amazon's shield, which the
artist has not succeeded in rendering truthfully in side
view. That is a rather difficult problem in perspective,
which was not solved until after many experiments.
F. B. Tarbell, A History of Ancient Greek Art
