Vases › Onesimos
Onesimos
Painter

Onesimos

Active c. 505–470 BC
School Athenian; Euphronios workshop
Works 384 vases
Identified Signature known since 19th century. Full corpus assembled by Beazley.
High confidence
Style & Characteristics
Ambitious large-scale tondo compositions; fine anatomical detail; emotional expressiveness; pioneering use of three-quarter views; subtle rendering of drapery transparency.
Name & Etymology
Real name known from a signed kylix in the Louvre (G 105): "Onesimos egrapsen". The name means "useful" or "profitable" in Greek, suggesting he may have been a freed slave.
Attribution Confidence High
One signed work plus a large, stylistically coherent corpus. Attributed works widely accepted. Closely associated with the potter Euphronios (later career).
Onesimos was an Athenian red-figure cup-painter active c. 505–470 BC. He worked closely with the potter Euphronios and was one of the finest draughtsmen of the Late Archaic period. His name, meaning "useful" or "profitable", suggests he may have been of servile origin. He is known for large-scale compositions on the interior of kylikes, including the famous Ilioupersis (Sack of Troy) cup in Malibu.
Scholarly Controversies
Beazley initially attributed some of Onesimos's works to the "Panaitios Painter", believing them to be by a different artist. He later merged the two identities, recognising them as the same painter at different career stages. This merger is now generally accepted but not universal.
384 vases by Onesimos
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–490 BCE
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 490–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 490–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 500–480 BCE
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -525 TO -475
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -525 TO -475
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 490–480 BCE
Two fragments of a terracotta kylix, join 12.231.2
Two fragments of a terracotta kylix, join 12.231.2
Kylix · ca. 500 BCE
Eight fragments of a terracotta kylix, joining 12.231.2
Eight fragments of a terracotta kylix, joining 12.231.2
Kylix · ca. 500 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
RF Kylix · 500–490 B.C.
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 TO -450
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
RF Kylix · about 500–490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
RF about 500–490 B.C.
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · first quarter of the 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
RF about 500–490 B.C.
Terracotta fragments of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragments of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 490–480 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragments (22)
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragments (22)
RF Kylix · about 500 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Type B Fragment (joins to 86.AE.607)
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Type B Fragment (joins to 86.AE.607)
RF Kylix · about 500–490 B.C.
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
RF Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
RF early 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
RF early 5th century B.C.
Group of Attic Red-Figure Type A Kantharos Fragments (18)
Group of Attic Red-Figure Type A Kantharos Fragments (18)
RF Kantharos · early 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2018)
RF early 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Plastic Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Plastic Vase Fragment
RF early 5th century B.C.
Kylix (drinking cup): Preparation for the Hoplitodromos (Armed Race)
Kylix (drinking cup): Preparation for the Hoplitodromos (Armed Race)
RF Kylix · 490-480 BCE
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Janiform Kantharos with Relief Masks
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Janiform Kantharos with Relief Masks
RF Kantharos · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Lidded Skyphoid
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Lidded Skyphoid
RF 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
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Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)