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 head of a man
Terracotta head of a man
4th century BCE
Fragment of a terracotta relief
Fragment of a terracotta relief
4th century BCE
Statuette of an old woman
Statuette of an old woman
4th–3rd century BCE
Terracotta head of a man
Terracotta head of a man
4th century BCE
Terracotta statuette of dancing Aphrodite with Eros
Terracotta statuette of dancing Aphrodite with Eros
early 4th century BCE
Terracotta statuette of Eros and Psyche
Terracotta statuette of Eros and Psyche
4th–3rd century BCE
Terracotta Eros
Terracotta Eros
1st half of the 4th century BCE
Volute-krater fragment
Volute-krater fragment
Krater · 4th century BCE
Volute-krater fragment
Volute-krater fragment
Krater · 4th century BCE
Terracotta bowl
Terracotta bowl
4th–3rd century BCE
Terracotta tondo from a bowl
Terracotta tondo from a bowl
4th century BCE
Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle over the top) in the form of a duck
Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle over the top) in the form of a duck
4th century BCE
Terracotta guttus (flask with handle and spout)
Terracotta guttus (flask with handle and spout)
4th century BCE
Terracotta amphoriskos (flask) in the form of a shell
Terracotta amphoriskos (flask) in the form of a shell
4th century BCE
Lekythos
Lekythos
Lekythos · 4th century BCE
Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle)
Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle)
4th century BCE
Terracotta guttus (flask with handle and spout)
Terracotta guttus (flask with handle and spout)
4th century BCE
Terracotta vase in the form of an ape
Terracotta vase in the form of an ape
4th century BCE
Terracotta bowl
Terracotta bowl
4th–3rd century BCE
Lebes gamikos (jar associated with weddings)
Lebes gamikos (jar associated with weddings)
Attributed to the Xenon Group · Lebes Gamikos · 4th century BCE
Statuette of a woman
Statuette of a woman
4th–3rd century BCE
Statuette of a woman
Statuette of a woman
4th–3rd century BCE
Terracotta pelike (wine jar)
Terracotta pelike (wine jar)
the Helbig-Reverse Group · Pelike · early 4th century BCE
Terracotta amphoriskos (oil flask)
Terracotta amphoriskos (oil flask)
Aryballos · 4th century BCE
Terracotta vase with janiform heads
Terracotta vase with janiform heads
4th century BCE
Etruscan Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Etruscan Red-Figure Stamnos Fragment
Funnel Group · Stamnos · 4th century B.C.
Terracotta trozella (two-handled jar)
Terracotta trozella (two-handled jar)
4th century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th–3rd century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th century BCE
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
Terracotta saucer-shaped lamp
4th century BCE
Terracotta amphora with lid (jar)
Terracotta amphora with lid (jar)
Amphora · 4th century BCE
Red-figure Skyphos: Two Youths
Red-figure Skyphos: Two Youths
Skyphos · c. 390 BCE
Red-Figure Bell-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Bust of Dionysos and Comic Actors (A); Dionysos, Satyr, Maenad (B)
Red-Figure Bell-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Bust of Dionysos and Comic Actors (A); Dionysos, Satyr, Maenad (B)
Choregos Painter · Krater · c. 390–380 BCE
Fragment of a mixing bowl (krater)
Fragment of a mixing bowl (krater)
Painter: the Adolphseck Painter · Krater · about 380–370 B.C.
Mixing bowl (bell krater)
Mixing bowl (bell krater)
the Hoppin Painter · Krater · about 380–370 B.C.
Bell Krater with Satyr and Maenad
Bell Krater with Satyr and Maenad
8588 · Krater · ca. 380 BCE (Classical)
Rotfigurige Hydria (Attische Hydria)
Rotfigurige Hydria (Attische Hydria)
Jenaer Maler · Hydria · 390 v. Chr.
Red-figure Bell Krater: Seated Woman with a Flowering Branch
Red-figure Bell Krater: Seated Woman with a Flowering Branch
Krater · 390-380 BCE
Fragment of a krater
Fragment of a krater
The Black Fury Painter · Krater · 390–380 B.C.
Krater with Nike Driving Quadriga and Three Men Standing
Krater with Nike Driving Quadriga and Three Men Standing
3159 · Krater · 390-380 BCE (Classical)
Terracotta bell-krater (vase for mixing wine and water)
Terracotta bell-krater (vase for mixing wine and water)
Attributed to the Meleager Painter · Krater · ca. 390–380 BCE
Attic Red-Figure Dinoid Volute Krater and Stand
Attic Red-Figure Dinoid Volute Krater and Stand
Meleager Painter · Krater · 390–380 B.C.
Early Apulian Red-figure Pelike: Two Youths by a Stele
Early Apulian Red-figure Pelike: Two Youths by a Stele
Pelike · c. 383-370 BCE
Calyx Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Two Youths
Calyx Krater (mixing bowl for wine and water): Two Youths
Krater · c. 383-370 BCE
Mixing bowl (bell krater)
Mixing bowl (bell krater)
The Painter of Boston 00.348 · Krater · about 370–360 B.C.
Oil flask (squat lekythos)
Oil flask (squat lekythos)
Painter: Hoppin · Lekythos · about 370–360 B.C.
Mixing bowl (calyx-krater)
Mixing bowl (calyx-krater)
The Nazzano Painter · Krater · about 380–360 B.C.
Pyxis and Cover with Women and Erotes
Pyxis and Cover with Women and Erotes
6256 · Pyxis · ca. 370-360 BC (Late Classical)
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Q Painter · Kylix · about 380 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Q Painter · Kylix · about 380 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Pelike, Kerch Style
Attic Red-Figure Pelike, Kerch Style
Painter of Munich 2365 · Pelike · about 380 B.C.
Apulian Red-Figure Bell Krater
Apulian Red-Figure Bell Krater
Painter of the Long Overfalls · Krater · about 380–370 B.C.
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater Fragment
Krater · about 380 B.C.
Hydria with Hermes Pursuing a Youth
Hydria with Hermes Pursuing a Youth
4364 · Hydria · ca. 380-360 BCE (Classical)
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Attic Red-Figure Stemless Kylix
Q Painter · Kylix · about 380 B.C.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask) in the form of a sphinx
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask) in the form of a sphinx
Lekythos · ca. 380–360 BCE
Terracotta column-krater (mixing bowl)
Terracotta column-krater (mixing bowl)
Attributed to the Rodin Painter · Krater · ca. 380–360 BCE
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)