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 pyxis (box)
Terracotta pyxis (box)
Pyxis · ca. 425–400 BCE
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos, fragmentiert
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos, fragmentiert
Lekythos · 425-401 v. Chr.
PELIKE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
PELIKE (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
BONN 2053, P OF · Pelike · -425 TO -375
MUG, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
MUG, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
LOUVRE G 433, P OF by BEAZLEYLOUVRE G 433, P OF · -425 TO -375
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Terracotta head of a youth
Terracotta head of a youth
late 5th–4th century BCE
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Kylix · -425 TO -375
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Krater · late 5th century BCE
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Polygnotos · Lekythos · late 5th century B.C.
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Q P · Kylix · -425 TO -375
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CHOUS (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Palmette Motif
Squat Lekythos (oil flask): Palmette Motif
Lekythos · 425-375 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (mixing bowl) with lid
Terracotta bell-krater (mixing bowl) with lid
Attributed to the Group of the Würzburg Scylla · Krater · late 5th century BCE
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe, Shape 4
Attic Red-Figure Oinochoe, Shape 4
Oinochoe · late 5th–early 4th century B.C.
Almond-shaped Red-figure Lekythos
Almond-shaped Red-figure Lekythos
Lekythos · late 5th or early 4th century BCE
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Manner ofQ P · Kylix · -425 TO -375
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Krater · -425 TO -375
FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
Pelike depicting Helen and Paris
Pelike depicting Helen and Paris
The Painter of Louvre G 539 · Pelike · 420-400 BCE
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CompareSUB-MEIDIAN CUP-GROUP · Kylix · -425 TO -375
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Painter of London E614 · Lekythos · late 5th century B.C.
ASKOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
ASKOS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
-425 TO -375
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Kylix · -425 TO -375
Hydria (water jar): Dionysos and Entourage
Hydria (water jar): Dionysos and Entourage
Brussels A 3099 · Hydria · c. 400 BCE
Oinochoe
Oinochoe
Close to: the Meidias Painter · Oinochoe · about 400 B.C.
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
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos
Polion · Lekythos · about 425–420 B.C.
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CUP, STEMLESS, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
Manner ofMELEAGER P · Kylix · -425 TO -375
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
KRATER, BELL, FRAGMENT (ATHENIAN, RED-FIGURE)
CompareATHENS WEDDING, P OF THE · Krater · -425 TO -375
Terracotta limbless "doll"
Terracotta limbless "doll"
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Chous with Eros Pulling Toy Cart
Chous with Eros Pulling Toy Cart
6256 · ca. 410 BCE (Classical)
Red-Figure Bell Krater: Woman with Two Athletes
Red-Figure Bell Krater: Woman with Two Athletes
the Amykos Painter · Krater · 420-410 BCE
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Attributed to the Amykos Painter · Hydria · ca. 420–400 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Woman Painter · Lekythos · ca. 420–400 BCE
Schale (Attisch rotfigurige Trinkschale (Kylix))
Schale (Attisch rotfigurige Trinkschale (Kylix))
Kylix · 420-400 v. Chr.
Bell Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Two Silenoi with Maidens; Draped Youths
Bell Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Two Silenoi with Maidens; Draped Youths
the Amykos Painter · Krater · 420-410 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Polion · Krater · ca. 420 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Lekanis Lid Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Lekanis Lid Fragment
about 420–410 B.C.
Two fragments of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Two fragments of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Attributed to the Palermo Painter · Skyphos · ca. 420–400 BCE
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos (Aryballos)
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos (Aryballos)
Meidias-Maler · Lekythos · 420-400 v. Chr.
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 Naples Painter · Lebes Gamikos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the manner of the Bird Painter · Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to a painter of Group R · Lekythos · ca. 420–400 BCE
Lucanian Red-Figure Bell Krater
Lucanian Red-Figure Bell Krater
Pisticci Painter · Krater · about 420 B.C.
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Terracotta hydria (water jar)
Attributed to the manner of the Meidias Painter · Hydria · ca. 420–410 BCE
Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Attributed to Polion · Skyphos · ca. 420 BCE
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos, fragmentiert
Attisch rotfigurige Bauchlekythos, fragmentiert
Lekythos · 420 v. Chr.
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Attic Red-Figure Lekythos
Painter of the Frankfort Acorn · Lekythos · 420–400 B.C.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of Berlin 2464 · Lekythos · ca. 420–410 BCE
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)
Attributed to the Chrysis Painter · Hydria · ca. 420–410 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Quadrate Painter · Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with two vertical handles): heads of a satyr and a woman
Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with two vertical handles): heads of a satyr and a woman
Aison · Kantharos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE
Oinochoe, chous
Oinochoe, chous
Oinochoe · ca. 420 BCE
Lekythos
Lekythos
Attributed to the Quadrate Painter · Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Painter of New York 23.160.41 · Lekythos · ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Attributed to the Triglyph Painter · Lekythos · ca. 420–400 BCE
Terracotta amphoriskos (flask)
Terracotta amphoriskos (flask)
ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Terracotta oinochoe: chous (jug)
Oinochoe · ca. 420 BCE
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)