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 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 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 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 Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
RF Kylix · about 490 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Lid Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2015, comprised of 2 Joining Fragments)
Attic Red-Figure Lid Fragment (part of 81.AE.206.D.2015, comprised of 2 Joining Fragments)
RF 480–470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Group of Attic Red-Figure Coral-Red Phiale Fragments (21)
Group of Attic Red-Figure Coral-Red Phiale Fragments (21)
RF Phiale · about 480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Attic Coral-Red Phiale Fragment
Attic Coral-Red Phiale Fragment
Phiale · about 480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Mask Kantharos Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kantharos with Masks Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kantharos with Masks Fragment
RF Kantharos · about 480 B.C.
Kylix (drinking cup): Warrior in Thracian Costume
Kylix (drinking cup): Warrior in Thracian Costume
RF Kylix · 470-460 BCE
coupe
coupe
Epoque / période : archaïque ; figures rouges Date de création/fabrication : 1e quart Ve s. av. J.-C
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
coupe
coupe
Epoque / période : archaïque ; figures rouges Date de création/fabrication : 1e quart Ve s. av. J.-C
CUP B, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP B, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -525 to -475
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP B (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP B (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
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 (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (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
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 (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENTS (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
JUG, FRAGMENT (CORINTHIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
JUG, FRAGMENT (CORINTHIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
BF Kylix · -500 to -450
JUG, FRAGMENT (CORINTHIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
JUG, FRAGMENT (CORINTHIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
BF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENTS (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
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (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
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
PLATE, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF -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
CUP (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP (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
PYXIS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PYXIS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Pyxis · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -500 to -450
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
RF Kylix · -525 to -475
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Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)