Black-Figure Water Carrier (Hydria) wiith Heracles Wrestling Triton
| Attributed To | The Rycroft Painter |
|---|---|
| Culture | Greek |
| Title | Black-Figure Water Carrier (Hydria) wiith Heracles Wrestling Triton |
| Date | 520–510 BCE |
| Medium | Terracotta and added color |
| Dimensions | Base: 6 7/16 in. (16.4 cm) Overall (with handle): 20 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (51.4 x 30 cm) rim diameter: 9 7/16 in. (24.1 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 77.33 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A water carrier with two horizontal handles on the sides of the shoulder and one vertical handle at the back, attached to the rim. A large panel on the front depicts a man wrestling with a man who has a fish tail. On the shoulder panel, another figure appears between to large eyes and two figures that have both human and horse features that are on the outside of the eyes.
This hydria, or water vessel, depicts the struggle between the mortal hero Hercules and the fishtailed monster Triton. The artist was clearly interested in dramatic narrative and chose to present their confrontation as a vigorous wrestling match. The intertwined bodies are an early attempt at presenting figures moving in three-dimensional space, another bold choice on the part of this artist. The figures are also depicted with striking detail, calling further attention to the painter’s skill.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"Black-Figure Water Carrier (Hydria) wiith Heracles Wrestling Triton | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=77.33