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
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Kylix · -450 TO -400
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
the Kekrops Painter · Krater · ca. 410–400 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Cup Fragment
Penthesilea Painter · Kylix · about 450 B.C.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
the Reed Painter · Lekythos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Standing female flute player
Standing female flute player
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Column Krater Fragment
Krater · about 450 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Achilles Painter · Krater · about 450 B.C.
Standing female flute player
Standing female flute player
early 5th century BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FERRARA T 480 B, P OF · -450 TO -400
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Washing Painter · Lekythos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Attributed to the Meidias Painter · Oinochoe · ca. 420–410 BCE
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Attributed to the Somzée Painter · Pelike · ca. 420–410 BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FERRARA T 143 A, P OF · -450 TO -400
Attic Red-Figure Volute Krater
Attic Red-Figure Volute Krater
Polygnotos · Krater · about 445–430 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Pelike
Attic Red-Figure Pelike
Achilles Painter · Pelike · 445–440 B.C.
Lekythos (oil flask): Seated Woman facing Right, holding an Alabastron
Lekythos (oil flask): Seated Woman facing Right, holding an Alabastron
Lekythos · c. 440 BCE
Loutrophoros: Wedding Procession
Loutrophoros: Wedding Procession
Loutrophoros · c. 440 BCE
Drinking cup (kylix) depicting Peirithoös and the birth of Helen
Drinking cup (kylix) depicting Peirithoös and the birth of Helen
Painter: the Xenotimos PainterPotter: Xenotimos · Kylix · about 430–420 B.C.
Lekythos (oil flask): Female Figure Holding Box and Taenia
Lekythos (oil flask): Female Figure Holding Box and Taenia
Lekythos · c. 440-420 BCE
Stamnos (mixing vessel) with Cover: Dionysos, Maenads, and Satyr
Stamnos (mixing vessel) with Cover: Dionysos, Maenads, and Satyr
The Christie Painter · Stamnos · c. 440 BCE
Miniature Oinochoe (wine pitcher): Child and Wagon
Miniature Oinochoe (wine pitcher): Child and Wagon
Oinochoe · c. 440-420 BCE
Squat Lekythos Depicting a Seated Woman
Squat Lekythos Depicting a Seated Woman
6256 · Lekythos · 442-420 BCE (Classical)
Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
a painter of the Group of Polygnotos · Krater · ca. 440–430 BCE
Fragment of a terracotta lebes gamikos (round-bottomed bowl with handles and stand used in weddings)
Fragment of a terracotta lebes gamikos (round-bottomed bowl with handles and stand used in weddings)
Attributed to the Earlier Mannerists · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Attributed to the Mannheim Painter · Oinochoe · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Achilles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta sherd from a loutrophoros
Terracotta sherd from a loutrophoros
Attributed to the Group of Polygnotos · Loutrophoros · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of the New York Hypnos · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Satyrs Pursuing Maenads
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Satyrs Pursuing Maenads
Naples Painter · Krater · 440–430 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Krater · ca. 440–430 BCE
Lekythos
Lekythos
the Group of Naples Stg. 252 · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Lekythos
Lekythos
Attributed to the Thanatos Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of Athens 1934 · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Achilles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
the Achilles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Achilles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)
Attributed to the Loeb Painter · Amphora · ca. 440–430 BCE
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Nestoris
Fragmentary Attic Red-Figure Nestoris
Polygnotos · about 440 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Nolan Amphora
Attic Red-Figure Nolan Amphora
Richmond Painter · Amphora · about 440 B.C.
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Alabastron · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
ACHILLES P · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Attributed to the Polydektes Painter · Krater · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Phiale Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lebes gamikos (round-bottomed bowl with handles and stand used in weddings)
Terracotta lebes gamikos (round-bottomed bowl with handles and stand used in weddings)
Attributed to Painter of London 1923 · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Oinochoe · about 440–430 B.C.
Chous (Toy Pitcher)
Chous (Toy Pitcher)
Greek; Athens · 440-420 BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
the Painter of Munich 2363 · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Hydria (water jar): Family Scene
Hydria (water jar): Family Scene
Hydria · 440-430 BCE
Attisch-rotfiguriger Glockenkrater
Attisch-rotfiguriger Glockenkrater
Klio-Maler · Krater · 440 v. Chr.
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 440–420 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater
Nekyia Painter · Krater · about 440 B.C.
Red-Figure Stamnos (Mixing/Storage Vessel): Komos (Musicians and Revelers)
Red-Figure Stamnos (Mixing/Storage Vessel): Komos (Musicians and Revelers)
Kleophon Painter · Stamnos · c. 435–425 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Bosanquet Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Achilles Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of Munich 2335 · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Oinochoe
Oinochoe
Oinochoe · ca. 440–430 BCE
Oinochoe (Pitcher)
Oinochoe (Pitcher)
The Painter of Naples 3136 · Oinochoe · about 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Thanatos Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Phiale Painter · Lekythos · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Attributed to the Persephone Painter · Alabastron · ca. 440 BCE
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)