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 squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
the Painter of Munich 2363 · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase)
Alabastron · ca. 440–430 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of the New York Hypnos · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Nolan Amphora
Attic Red-Figure Nolan Amphora
Richmond Painter · Amphora · about 440 B.C.
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Attributed to the Mannheim Painter · Oinochoe · ca. 440 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe Fragment
Oinochoe · about 440–430 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
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater
Nekyia Painter · Krater · about 440 B.C.
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
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)
the Persephone Painter · Krater · ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of Athens 1934 · Lekythos · ca. 440–430 BCE
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
Nestoris (two-handled jar): Athena with Herakles and Warrior; Amazon and Greek Fighting
Nestoris (two-handled jar): Athena with Herakles and Warrior; Amazon and Greek Fighting
c. 430 BCE
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): young woman holding box to youth leaning on staff
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): young woman holding box to youth leaning on staff
the Eretria Painter · Lekythos · c. 430 BCE
Two-handled vessel (nestoris)
Two-handled vessel (nestoris)
the Amykos Painter · about 420–410 B.C.
Bell Krater (bowl for mixing wine and water): Bouzyges and the Plow
Bell Krater (bowl for mixing wine and water): Bouzyges and the Plow
The Hephaistos Painter · Krater · c. 430-420 BCE
Sog. Nolanische Amphora
Sog. Nolanische Amphora
Amphora · 433-400 v. Chr.
Kanne, Knaben (Kanne, Attische Weinkanne (Chous))
Kanne, Knaben (Kanne, Attische Weinkanne (Chous))
Oinochoe · 433-400 v. Chr.
Pelike (Attisch-rotfigurige Pelike)
Pelike (Attisch-rotfigurige Pelike)
Pelike · 433-400 v. Chr.
Attisch-rotfigurige Loutrophoros
Attisch-rotfigurige Loutrophoros
Loutrophoros · 433-400 v. Chr.
Squat Lekythos Depicting Eutychia, Eunomia and Paidia
Squat Lekythos Depicting Eutychia, Eunomia and Paidia
3231 · Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE (Classical)
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Pelike · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Attributed to the Orpheus Painter · Hydria · ca. 430 BCE
Lebes gamikos
Lebes gamikos
Attributed to the Washing Painter · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Chous (Toy Pitcher)
Chous (Toy Pitcher)
Greek; Athens · 430-410 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Lekythos · about 430 B.C.
Bell Krater (bowl for mixing wine and water): Torch Race
Bell Krater (bowl for mixing wine and water): Torch Race
Peleus Painter · Krater · c. 430-420 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater
Christie Painter · Krater · 430–420 B.C.
Pelike, miniature
Pelike, miniature
Pelike · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Oinochoe · late 5th century BCE
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Flying Eros
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Flying Eros
Lekythos · c. 425 BCE
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Pyxis · late 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater Fragment
Dinos Painter · Krater · about 430–420 B.C.
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
the Washing Painter · Lekythos · ca. 430 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Penelope Painter · Skyphos · about 430 B.C.
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 the Washing Painter · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Lekythos · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Attributed to the Disney Painter · Oinochoe · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta volute-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water) with stand
Terracotta volute-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water) with stand
COGHILL P · Krater · ca. 430 BCE
Kylix
Kylix
Kylix · late 5th century BCE
Olpe
Olpe
ca. 430 BCE
Water jar (kalpis-hydria) with Danaë receiving Zeus
Water jar (kalpis-hydria) with Danaë receiving Zeus
Manner of: the Dinos Painter · Hydria · about 430-420 B.C.
Lekythos
Lekythos
Lekythos · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta statuette of Nike, the personification of victory
Terracotta statuette of Nike, the personification of victory
late 5th century 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 the Washing Painter · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Fragment of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Fragment of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Attributed to the Palermo Painter · Skyphos · ca. 430–400 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 430 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe
Eretria Painter · Oinochoe · 430–420 B.C.
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Attributed to the Eretria Painter · Oinochoe · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta stemless kylix (drinking cup)
Terracotta stemless kylix (drinking cup)
the Marlay Painter · Kylix · ca. 430 BCE
Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with high handles)
Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with high handles)
Attributed to Class W: The Class W: The Persian Class of Head Vases · Kantharos · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of Munich 2335 · Lekythos · ca. 430 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Cup
Attic Red-Figure Cup
MARLAY GROUP · Kylix · about 430–420 B.C.
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Attributed to the Marlay Painter · Krater · ca. 430 BCE
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
Attributed to the Washing Painter · Hydria · ca. 430–420 BCE
Lekythos
Lekythos
Attributed to the Group of London E 614 · Lekythos · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Lekythos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Hydria · ca. 430–420 BCE
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)