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
Terracotta neck-amphora of Panathenaic shape (jar)
Terracotta neck-amphora of Panathenaic shape (jar)
Attributed to the Pan Painter · Amphora · ca. 470 BCE
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Terracotta pelike (jar)
the Altamura Painter · Pelike · ca. 470 BCE
Terracotta amphora (jar)
Terracotta amphora (jar)
Attributed to the Syracuse Painter · Amphora · ca. 470–460 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of the Yale Lekythos · Lekythos · ca. 470–460 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Terracotta lekythos (oil jar)
Terracotta lekythos (oil jar)
the Oionokles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 470 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Bowdoin Painter · Lekythos · about 470 B.C.
Nolan Amphora (storage jar): Theseus and Sinis Grasping Fir Tree
Nolan Amphora (storage jar): Theseus and Sinis Grasping Fir Tree
the Alkimachos Painter · Amphora · c. 470-460 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
the Alkimachos Painter · Amphora · ca. 470–460 BCE
Two-handled jar (neck amphora) depicting a herm in front of an altar
Two-handled jar (neck amphora) depicting a herm in front of an altar
the Nikon Painter · Amphora · 470–460 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
Triptolemos Painter · Kylix · about 470 B.C.
Red-Figure Cup
Red-Figure Cup
Penthesilea Painter · Kylix · about 470–450 B.C.
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Komos (Revel)
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Komos (Revel)
Pig Painter · Krater · 470–460 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragments (5)
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragments (5)
Penthesilea Painter · Kylix · about 470–450 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Fragmentary Oinochoe, Shape 8 (Mug with Two Disparate Handles)
Attic Red-Figure Fragmentary Oinochoe, Shape 8 (Mug with Two Disparate Handles)
Painter of Philadelphia 2449 · Oinochoe · about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Akestorides Painter · Kylix · about 470–450 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Penthesilea Painter · Skyphos · about 470–460 B.C.
Nolan Amphora (storage jar): Nike
Nolan Amphora (storage jar): Nike
the Richmond Painter · Amphora · 470-460 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Attributed to the Pan Painter · Krater · ca. 470–460 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Type B
Attic Red-Figure Kylix Type B
Euaichme Painter · Kylix · about 470–460 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Astragalos Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Penthesilea Painter · Kylix · about 470–460 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type C (Lipped) Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Type C (Lipped) Fragment
Painter of Agora P42 · Kylix · about 470–460 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragments (43)
Attic Red-Figure Stamnos Fragments (43)
Kleophrades Painter · Stamnos · about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Pelike fragment
Attic Red-Figure Pelike fragment
Siren Painter · Pelike · about 470 B.C.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Workshop of the Nikon Painter · Lekythos · ca. 470–460 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with twisted handles
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with twisted handles
the Painter of the Yale Oinochoe · Amphora · ca. 470 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Footed Dinos
Attic Red-Figure Footed Dinos
Syleus Painter · Dinos · about 470 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Keras Fragment
about 470 B.C.
Terracotta mug
Terracotta mug
the Group of Philadelphia 2272 · ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Attributed to the Agrigento Painter · Krater · ca. 470–460 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
The Berlin Painter · Amphora · ca. 470–465 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
the Achilles Painter · Amphora · ca. 470–460 BCE
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Attributed to the Penthesilea Painter · Pyxis · ca. 465–460 BCE
Attic Red-figure Lekythos: Running Woman
Attic Red-figure Lekythos: Running Woman
Lekythos · c. 460-440 BCE
Kylix (drinking cup): Two Men with Staffs
Kylix (drinking cup): Two Men with Staffs
the Pistoxenos Painter · Kylix · c. 460 BCE
Hydria-Kalpis (water jar): Women and Herons
Hydria-Kalpis (water jar): Women and Herons
the Painter of the Yale Oinochoe · Hydria · 465-455 BCE
Hydria (water jar): Mourning Women
Hydria (water jar): Mourning Women
The Painter of the Berlin Hydria · Hydria · c. 460-450 BCE
Kylix (drinking cup): Athlete with a Strigil
Kylix (drinking cup): Athlete with a Strigil
Kylix · c. 460 BCE
Skyphos (drinking cup): Running Youths
Skyphos (drinking cup): Running Youths
Kylix · c. 460 BCE
Fragment of a Red-Figure Bell-Krater or Calyx-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Female Head (Aglauros)
Fragment of a Red-Figure Bell-Krater or Calyx-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Female Head (Aglauros)
Nausicaa Painter · Krater · c. 460–450 BCE
Lekythos with Nike Holding a Band
Lekythos with Nike Holding a Band
5527 · Lekythos · ca. 460 BCE (Classical)
Skyphos (drinking cup): Silenus Holding an Amphora
Skyphos (drinking cup): Silenus Holding an Amphora
the Euaion Painter · Kylix · c. 460-450 BCE
Calyx Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Dionysos, Maenads with Torches, Satyr
Calyx Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Dionysos, Maenads with Torches, Satyr
Mykonos Painter · Krater · c. 460 BCE
Rhyton in Form of a Dimidiated Donkey and Ram Head
Rhyton in Form of a Dimidiated Donkey and Ram Head
3524 · ca. 450 BCE (Classical)
Kylix with a Youth and a Boy
Kylix with a Youth and a Boy
6893 · Kylix · ca. 450 BCE (Classical)
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Attributed to the Painter of Munich 2660 · Kylix · ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Attributed to the Euaion Painter · Kylix · ca. 460–450 BCE
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
an artist near the Splanchnopt Painter · Kylix · ca. 460–450 BCE
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
the Nausicaä Painter · Hydria · ca. 460–450 BCE
Aryballos in the form of two women's heads conjoined
Aryballos in the form of two women's heads conjoined
Aryballos · ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Attributed to the Painter of London E 342 · Amphora · ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Attributed to the Penthesilea Painter · Skyphos · ca. 460 BCE
Kylix Fragment
Kylix Fragment
the Carlsruhe Painter · Kylix · ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug) in the form of a woman's head
Terracotta oinochoe (jug) in the form of a woman's head
the Class S: The Canessa Class of Head Vases · Oinochoe · ca. 460–450 BCE
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
the Cleveland Painter · Krater · ca. 460–450 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Penthesilea Painter · Kylix · about 460 B.C.
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)