Greek Painted Vases

The Greek Painted Vases
Continuing the exploration of ancient Greek art

When Greek painting is discussed, it is usually the vases that are mentioned since so little of Greek wall painting remains. The vases, however, show a great variety of style and development over the centuries, beginning with the geometric and very linear style, continuing through the "orientalizing" style which borrowed images from the eastern world, and into the classical era with mythology portrayed with as much classical perfection as the ancient Greek potters and painters could muster.


"Attic Geometric Amphora" from 8th Century bce. 20" h. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich	"Geometric krater from the Dipylon cemetary, Athens, c.740 bce. Geometric designs cover this terracotta 42 5/8" high vase. Metropolitan Museum of Art. See Page 102 Gardner text.	Geometric style vase from the Dipylon cemetary, near Athens.	'Protoattic" vase with sphinxes by the Analatos Painter. c.690 bce. Sphinxes and other designs seen here indicate an "orientalizing style."

The "Orientalizing Style" of Greek painted vases is marked by the imagery of the Near East, including zoomorphic imaginary animals and other designs traditionally identified as originating "east" of Greece.


"Hydria" with Black-figure decoration by the "A.D. Painter" portrays "women at a fountain house." c.520 bce, 20 7/8" height. Museum of Fine Art, Boston	"The Francois Vase" by Ergotimos and Kleitias is an Attic Black-figure Krater from Chiusi, c.575 bce and 26" height. Museo Archaeologico, Florence	"Athenian Red-figure Hydria"

Moving into the Greek classical era, the painted vases become extremely refined. The images usually relate a story about the gods and goddesses, the heros and heroines, or show people engaged in religious and daily activity.


Large Red-figure Krater painted by Euphronios.	"Revelers" is a Red-figure Amphora from Vulci by Euthymidex, c.510-500 bce, 24" high. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich	Red-figure Amphora by the Achilles Painter, c.450 bce, from Stamnos.


Andokides Painter, Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game (Attic bilingual amphora), c. 520 bce. See Page 115, Gardner text. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.	Black-figure Amphora from Vulci by Exekias c.530 bce. 24" high. Vatican Museums, Rome. See detail below.	Red figure side of the Attic bilingual amphora at the far left.

Detail from an Athenian black-figure amphora by Exekias, "Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game," c. 530 bce.

Vatican Museums, Rome


"Dherveni Krater" from the 2nd Century bce is bronze with silver incrustations. 27 1/2" high. Archaeological Museum, Salonika	Gold Amphora with figures of centaurs as handles. From a find of gold vessels at Panagurishte, Bulgaria. c.3rd Century bce.

Page Updated 8/27/08

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CLASSICAL AND HELLENISTIC GREEK SCULPTURE