Vases › Red-figure
Technique

Red-figure

Period c. 530–320 BC
Collection 35588 vases
The technique that revolutionised Greek vase painting. Figures are left in the natural red clay colour while the background is painted black. This allowed painters to use a brush for internal details instead of an incising tool, enabling far greater naturalism, anatomical detail, and emotional expression.
35588 examples
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
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)
Onesimos · early 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
5th century B.C.
Red-Figure Pelike
Red-Figure Pelike
Pelike · first half of 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
5th–4th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Terracotta figure of a seated woman
Terracotta figure of a seated woman
early 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Berlin Painter · Oinochoe · 5th century B.C.
Terracotta statuette of a horse and rider
Terracotta statuette of a horse and rider
5th–4th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe (Chous) Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe (Chous) Fragment
Oinochoe · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Terracotta stamnos (jar)
Terracotta stamnos (jar)
Stamnos · early 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Euaion Painter · Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar)
Attributed to the Group of New York GR 517 · Amphora · early 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Amphora or Kalpis Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Amphora or Kalpis Fragment
Amphora · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Terracotta snake figurine
Terracotta snake figurine
5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Krater · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Amphora Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Amphora Fragment
Painter of the Louvre Centauromachy · Amphora · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe (Chous) Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe (Chous) Fragment
Oinochoe · 5th century B.C.
Hydria, miniature
Hydria, miniature
Hydria · 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Oinochoe · 5th century B.C.
Vase fragment in the form of a satyr's head
Vase fragment in the form of a satyr's head
Attributed to the Class O: The Sabouroff Class of Head Vases · Kantharos · 1st quarter of 5th century BCE
Etruscan Red-Figure Stemless Kylix Fragment
Etruscan Red-Figure Stemless Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th–4th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Vase Fragment
5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Stamnos · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Fragment
5th century B.C.
Attic (or Etruscan?) Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic (or Etruscan?) Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Stamnos · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragment
Kylix · 5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
5th century B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Kalpis Fragment
5th century B.C.
Neck Amphora (storage jar): Nereus (or Triton) with Scepter and Dolphin; Woman Running
Neck Amphora (storage jar): Nereus (or Triton) with Scepter and Dolphin; Woman Running
The Berlin Painter · Amphora · c. 490 BCE
Kylix (drinking cup): Satyrs and Maenads
Kylix (drinking cup): Satyrs and Maenads
Makron · Kylix · c. 490-480 BCE
Lekythos (oil flask): Nike (Victory) Pouring a Libation at an Altar
Lekythos (oil flask): Nike (Victory) Pouring a Libation at an Altar
The Berlin Painter · Lekythos · c. 490 BCE
Fragmentary Red-Figure Kylix (Drinking Cup): Warrior Sacrificing Ram
Fragmentary Red-Figure Kylix (Drinking Cup): Warrior Sacrificing Ram
Kylix · c. 490–480 BCE
Mixing bowl (column krater) depicting Medea and Pelias
Mixing bowl (column krater) depicting Medea and Pelias
Painter: the Aegisthus Painter · Krater · about 470 B.C.
Oil flask (lekythos) with the hunter Kephalos and his dog
Oil flask (lekythos) with the hunter Kephalos and his dog
the Pan Painter · Lekythos · about 470 B.C.
Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Athena Slaying Giant (body); Satyr between Maenads (shoulder)
Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Athena Slaying Giant (body); Satyr between Maenads (shoulder)
Lekythos · c. 490 BCE
Pelike (wine container): Striding Herakles
Pelike (wine container): Striding Herakles
The Geras Painter · Pelike · c. 490-480 BCE
Two-handled jar (Nolan amphora) with Zeus pursuing Ganymede
Two-handled jar (Nolan amphora) with Zeus pursuing Ganymede
the Pan Painter · Amphora · about 470 B.C.
Column Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Youth Playing a Lyre
Column Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Youth Playing a Lyre
The Harrow Painter · Krater · c. 490-470 BCE
Neck Amphora with Two Figures
Neck Amphora with Two Figures
2344 · Amphora · ca. 480 BCE (Early Classical)
Kylix with Boar Hunting Scene
Kylix with Boar Hunting Scene
1894 · Kylix · ca. 480 BCE (Classical)
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)