Red-figure lekythosBoston Phiale PainterNone

  • Art movementClassical
  • MuseumMuseum of Cycladic Art

Boston Phiale Painter (? – ?)

Discover the Boston Phiale Painter's stunning red-figure Attic style works! Explore ancient Greek mythology & narrative scenes from this influential 5th-century BC artist.

Museum of Cycladic Art (Athens, Greece)

Discover the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, Greece, home to over 3,000 ancient Cycladic artifacts, iconic figurines, and modern exhibits. Explore Greek culture, archaeology, and prehistoric art in a renowned cultural destination.

This red-figure lekythos, which is attributed to the Phiale Painter, depicts the Judgement of Paris. The iconographic subject firsr appears in Attic black-figure vase-painting ca. 575 BC and the basic scene includes the three goddesses (Hera, Athens and Aphrodite) whom the messenger of the gods, Hermes, leads before Paris. The Prince of Troy is portrayed bearded, usually sitting on o rocky outcrop - indicating Mount Ida at Troy - and sometimes reluctant to select the most beautiful goddess. On this vase, the goddesses are omitted, yet Paris appears to be aware of the difficult task that Hermes has set him; he probably senses the disaster that will befall his house and his homeland, since the award of the golden apple-prize to Aphrodite would be one of the causes of the outbreak of the Trojan War. Lekythoi were perfume vases, but were not always filled to the top. Inside several of them was a small phial at the base of the neck. Thus, a smaller quantity of the expensive aromatic oil was needed in order to fill the vase. Lekythoi of this type were in fact called

About this artwork

  • Title: Red-figure lekythos
  • Artist: Boston Phiale Painter
  • Format: Tall
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Where to see it: Museum of Cycladic Art
  • Corpus context: greek mythology influence, phiale painter's masterwork
  • Keywords: judgement of paris, mythological art, antique artwork
  • Color hue: Green to Violet Spectrum
  • Color intensity: Monochromatic
  • Topics: red figure pottery, greek vase painting, mythological scene

Questions & Answers

Which period of Boston Phiale Painter's career does "Red-figure lekythos" belong to?

"Red-figure lekythos" belongs to the Late Medieval of Boston Phiale Painter's career. This classification relates the work to the artist's development.

What are the reproduction rights of "Red-figure lekythos" at the Museum of Cycladic Art?

The copyright status of "Red-figure lekythos" by Boston Phiale Painter is clear: the work is still protected by copyright. Its presence at the Museum of Cycladic Art does not change that status.

Who is the artist behind "Red-figure lekythos"?

"Red-figure lekythos" was created by Boston Phiale Painter. The information on this page describes Boston Phiale Painter's original work.

Who is the author of "Red-figure lekythos", and in which movement?

Boston Phiale Painter created "Red-figure lekythos" within the Classical movement.

What is the dominant hue of "Red-figure lekythos" by Boston Phiale Painter?

The dominant hue of "Red-figure lekythos" by Boston Phiale Painter is green to violet spectrum. The hue is the underlying tone of the palette.

Is "Red-figure lekythos" held in the country of its creator?

Yes - the artwork is kept in the artist's home country. The artist's birth country is Greece, and the museum holding the original is in Greece.

Which artistic current is "Red-figure lekythos" by Boston Phiale Painter part of?

The movement associated with "Red-figure lekythos" by Boston Phiale Painter is Classical. This classification situates the work among related artists and artworks.

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