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
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 Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
RF about 490–470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type B Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type B Fragment
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 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 Janiform Kantharos fragment (part of 92.AE.118.1)
Attic Red-Figure Janiform Kantharos fragment (part of 92.AE.118.1)
RF Kantharos · 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.
Kylix (drinking cup): Preparation for the Hoplitodromos (Armed Race)
Kylix (drinking cup): Preparation for the Hoplitodromos (Armed Race)
RF Kylix · 490-480 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment
RF about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Fragments of an Attic Red-Figure Kylix (16)
Fragments of an Attic Red-Figure Kylix (16)
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 Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Cup
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Cup
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
RF Kantharos · about 490 B.C.
Attic White-Ground Cup (Lipped Inside) Fragment with Dionysos and a Satyr and One Black-Gloss Cup Fragment (rim)
Attic White-Ground Cup (Lipped Inside) Fragment with Dionysos and a Satyr and One Black-Gloss Cup Fragment (rim)
WG 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 Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
RF Kantharos · 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 Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic White-Ground Kylix Fragment
Attic White-Ground Kylix Fragment
WG Kylix · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
RF about 490–470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Jar Fragment
RF about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Skyphoid Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Lidded Skyphoid Fragment
RF 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kantharos with Masks Fragment (part of 81.AE.215.19)
Attic Red-Figure Kantharos with Masks Fragment (part of 81.AE.215.19)
RF Kantharos · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 4 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Janiform Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Janiform Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 2 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Vase Fragment
RF about 490–470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment (associated with 81.AE.215)
RF Kantharos · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 5 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 5 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
RF 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 22 joined fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Statuette Kantharos Fragment (comprised of 22 joined fragments)
RF Kantharos · 490–480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type B
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type B
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 Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
RF Kylix · ca. 490 BCE
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)