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 pelike (jar)
Terracotta pelike (jar)
Attributed to the Later Mannerists · Pelike · ca. 430 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 430–420 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
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
Lebes gamikos
Lebes gamikos
Attributed to the Washing Painter · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 430–420 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Lekythos · about 430 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Cup (Type B?)
Attic Red-Figure Cup (Type B?)
Eretria Painter · Kylix · about 430 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Lekythos · about 430 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Skyphos Fragment
Penelope Painter · Skyphos · about 430 B.C.
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 430–420 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 430 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
Lekythos
Lekythos
Lekythos · late 5th century BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Oinochoe · late 5th century BCE
Kantharos in the form of two heads
Kantharos in the form of two heads
Kantharos · late 5th century BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Lekythos · late 5th century B.C.
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Q P · Kylix · -425 TO -375
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Figure in Chiton and Mantle
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Figure in Chiton and Mantle
Lekythos · c. 420-390 BCE
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Q P · Kylix · -425 TO -375
Pelike depicting Helen and Paris
Pelike depicting Helen and Paris
The Painter of Louvre G 539 · Pelike · 420-400 BCE
KRATER, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
KRATER, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Krater · -425 TO -375
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Lukanischer Stangenhenkelkrater (Lukanischer Kolonnettenkrater)
Lukanischer Stangenhenkelkrater (Lukanischer Kolonnettenkrater)
Krater · 425-401 v. Chr.
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Attischer Dinos
Attischer Dinos
Dinos · 425-401 v. Chr.
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Apulischer Glockenkrater
Apulischer Glockenkrater
Krater · 425-401 v. Chr.
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
LEKANIS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
LEKANIS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Manner ofMEIDIAS P · -425 TO -375
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FERRARA T 271, P OF · Oinochoe · -425 TO -375
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FERRARA T 271, P OF · Oinochoe · -425 TO -375
Terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water)
Terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water)
Loutrophoros · ca. 400 BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Winged Eros Holding a Box
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Winged Eros Holding a Box
Lekythos · c. 420-390 BCE
Skyphos (cup)
Skyphos (cup)
Kylix · about 400 B.C.
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
PELIKE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PELIKE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
KIEV P · Pelike · -425 TO -375
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Floral Decorations
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Floral Decorations
Lekythos · 425-375 BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FERRARA T 459 B, P OF · Krater · -425 TO -375
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Pyxis · late 5th century BCE
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PLATE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Red-Figure Squat Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Birth of Erichthonios
Red-Figure Squat Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Birth of Erichthonios
Meidias Painter · Lekythos · c. 420–410 BCE
Terracotta statuette of an actor
Terracotta statuette of an actor
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
ASKOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
ASKOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Cup Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Cup Fragment
Kylix · about 425–400 B.C.
Terracotta head of a woman wearing a high headdress
Terracotta head of a woman wearing a high headdress
late 5th century BCE
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
Lekythos · late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Oinochoe (wine pitcher): Two Youths Leading a Bull to Sacrifice
Oinochoe (wine pitcher): Two Youths Leading a Bull to Sacrifice
The Dinos Painter · Oinochoe · c 420 BCE
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Pyxis · ca. 425–400 BCE
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)