Magna Graecia, South Italy, Apulian, ca. mid 4th century BCE. A large bell krater, painted in the red-figure style, with white/yellow details on one side. The iconography of the piece reflects important stories and symbolism in the life of the Greek colonies. On Side A is a draped maenad holding a thyrsus in her right hand and a tambour in her left. She stands facing a seated man, who also holds a thyrsus casually against his upper left arm and a tambour in his outstretched right hand. Side B features a pair of draped male figures standing in profile, one holding a walking stick. In addition to this iconography, the vessel is adorned by extensive decorative program: a laurel leaf wreath beneath the rim, stylized palmettes below the handles with fretted bands surrounding each handle's termini, and a lower register underscoring the figural scene comprised of Greek key (meander). Extensive fugitive pigments on Side A give it a lively appearance. Size: 15.5" W x 15.2" H (39.4 cm x 38.6 cm)

Perhaps the most exciting innovation in Greek vase painting was the red-figure technique, invented in Athens around 525 BCE and beloved by other artists of Magna Graecia. The red-figure technique allowed for much greater flexibility as opposed to the black-figure technique, for now the artist could use a soft, pliable brush rather than a rigid metal graver to delineate interior details, play with the thickness of the lines, as well as build up or dilute glazes to create chromatic effects. The painter would create figures by outlining them in the natural red of the vase, and then enrich these figural forms with black lines to suggest volume, at times perspectival depth, and movement, bringing those silhouettes and their environs to life. Beyond this, fugitive pigments made it possible for the artist to create additional layers of interest and detail as we see in this example.

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA

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#132924

Repaired from approximately twenty pieces, with very thin lines of overpainting along some of the repair lines. Some chips and nicks commensurate with age. Motifs are in nice condition and very clear.