VesselsGreek5th century BCE

Stamnos (mixing vessel) with Cover: Dionysos, Maenads, and Satyr

c. 440 BCE

Artists

The Christie PainterArtist

Description

Red-figure stamnos with lid. Side A: a thiasos. A bearded Dionysos processes to the right, wearing a long chiton, himation, and ivy wreath. In his lowered right hand is a kantharos and in his left is a vertical thyrsos. The god turns back, looking at the maenad behind him. Wearing a peplos, she holds a lighted torch in her left hand and an oinochoe in her right. To the right of Dionysos is a satyr followed by a second maenad, both wearing wreaths. Nude and beardless, the satyr plays the double-pipes. The maenad wears a flowing peplos and her hair is loose around her shoulders. She looks back towards the procession and a kithara hangs from her wrist. Side B: satyr and maenads. Nude and bearded, a satyr runs to the right, chasing a maenad. Below the satyr is a drinking horn. The maenad, wearing a belted peplos, flees to the right holding a horizontal thrysos in her right hand. At the far left, a second maenad flees the scene. She wears an unbelted peplos and carries a thyrsos. Both maenads wear a fillet and wreath, rendered in added white. Figures stand on a groundline consisting of maeanders and cross-squares. Added white is used throughout for details including the satyr's musculature, wreaths, and the tips of the thyrsoi. A pair of stacked palmettes with tendrils appear below each handle, which are also topped with an additional palmette.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Red-figure

Medium

Terracotta; reddish clay with fine lustrous black glaze

Culture

Greek

Period

Classical period, High

Century

5th century BCE