Technique
White-ground
Period
c. 500–400 BC
Collection
734 vases
A white slip covers the vessel, allowing polychrome painting in added colours — reds, blues, yellows, greens. The closest surviving approximation to the lost art of Greek panel painting. Most common on lekythoi used as grave offerings, their ethereal beauty perfectly suited to funerary themes.
734 examples
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
STAMNOS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Stamnos
HYDRIA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Hydria
CUP, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Kylix
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Skyphos
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
FIGURE VASE, ARYBALLOS (CRETAN, OUTLINE)
Aryballos
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
KRATER (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Krater
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
ALABASTRON (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Alabastron
AMPHORA, BELLY (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Amphora
AMPHORA, BELLY (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Amphora
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
TANKARD (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
PITCHER (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
TANKARD (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
POMEGRANATE (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
CUP (IONIAN, OUTLINE)
Kylix
KRATER, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Krater
AMPHORA, NECK, FRAGMENTS (EAST GREEK, FIKELLURA, OUTLINE)
Amphora
FRAGMENTS (PROTO-ELAMITE, OUTLINE)
OINOCHOE (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Oinochoe
OINOCHOE (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Oinochoe
CUP (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Kylix
AMPHORA, BELLY (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
KRATER (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Krater
AMPHORA, BELLY (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
SARCOPHAGUS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, CLAZOMENIAN, OUTLINE)
KRATER, CALYX (SOUTH ITALIAN, SICILIAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
BOEOTIAN BIRD CUP (BOEOTIAN, OUTLINE)
Kylix
CUP (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Kylix
PYXIS (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Pyxis
ARYBALLOS (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Aryballos
PLATE (ETRUSCO-CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
HYDRIA, FRAGMENTS (PROTOATTIC, OUTLINE)
Hydria
HYDRIA, FRAGMENTS (PROTOATTIC, OUTLINE)
Hydria
HYDRIA, FRAGMENTS (PROTOATTIC, OUTLINE)
Hydria
AMPHORA, NECK, FRAGMENTS (PROTOATTIC, OUTLINE)
Amphora
ARYBALLOS (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Aryballos
FRAGMENT (ARGIVE GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
KANTHAROS (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kantharos
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
BOWL (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
PITCHER (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
ARYBALLOS (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Aryballos
ARYBALLOS (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Aryballos
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)