Technique
Black-figure
Period
c. 620–480 BC
Collection
21495 vases
Figures painted in black slip on the natural red clay, with details incised through to the clay beneath. Invented at Corinth but perfected at Athens, where Exekias brought it to its supreme achievement. The technique demands extraordinary precision with the incising tool.
21495 examples
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
EDINBURGH P
· Lekythos
· -525 to -475
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP A (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP A (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
PYXIS, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AMASIS P
· Pyxis
· -575 TO -525
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
PHIALE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
NIKOSTHENES P
· Phiale
· -550 to -500
KRATER (?), FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Krater
· -575 to -525
AMPHORA, NECK (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAGROS GROUP by HOLMBERG
· Amphora
· -525 to -475
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
CAYLUS P by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
CAYLUS P by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, BELLY, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AMASIS P
· Amphora
· -575 to -525
CUP A (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LEAFLESS GROUP
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
BRUSSELS R 245, P OF by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
OLPE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
-525 to -475
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Lekythos
· -525 to -475
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
CAYLUS P by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
-575 to -525
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
GELA P
· Oinochoe
· -525 to -475
CUP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
CAYLUS P by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, NECK (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Amphora
· -550 to -500
CUP, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
CAYLUS P by BEAZLEY
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
HYDRIA (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
RYCROFT P by KURTZ
· Hydria
· -525 to -475
FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
-500 to -450
AMPHORA, NECK (ETRUSCAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Amphora
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Leagros Group
· Lekythos
· -525 to -475
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Leagros Group
· Lekythos
· -525 to -475
FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
SWAN GROUP
· -550 to -500
PLATE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Akin to SWAN GROUP by BEAZLEY
· -550 to -500
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
HAIMON P
· Lekythos
· -500 to -450
PLATE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Akin to SWAN GROUP by BEAZLEY
· -550 to -500
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
LITTLE-LION CLASS
· Lekythos
· -525 to -475
LEKYTHOS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
ARMING LEKYTHOI, GROUP OF THE
· Lekythos
· -525 to -475
BOWL (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Akin to SWAN GROUP
· -550 to -500
BOWL (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Akin to SWAN GROUP
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, NECK (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Amphora
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, PANATHENAIC PRIZE (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Amphora
· -400 to -300
HYDRIA, FRAGMENTS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Hydria
· -525 to -475
PYXIS (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
PALMETTE AND SWAN GROUP
· Pyxis
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, MINIATURE PANATHENAIC (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
BULAS GROUP
· Amphora
· -400 to -300
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -525 to -475
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, NECK (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, NECK, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -500 to -450
AMPHORA, BELLY, TYPE B (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, BELLY, TYPE C (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
AMPHORA, BELLY, TYPE B, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -575 to -525
AMPHORA, BELLY, TYPE C (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
AFFECTER
· Amphora
· -550 to -500
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Elbows Out
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP, LITTLE MASTER LIP (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Elbows Out
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Elbows Out
· Kylix
· -550 to -500
CUP, LITTLE MASTER BAND (ATHENIAN, BLACK-FIGURE)
Kylix
· -575 to -525
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)