Terracotta fragment of a skyphos (deep drinking cup)?
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Late Archaic · Late Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dietrich von Bothmer, Distinguished Research Curator, Greek and Roman Art, 2011
Accession Number
2011.604.2.2334
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from a skyphos, or deep two-handled drinking cup, to 490–480 and bears the hand of Makron, one of ancient Athens' most prolific vase painters. Attributed to the Late Archaic period, itails from the vibrant world of Attic red-figure pottery, where artists like Makron revolutionized ceramics by reserving figures in the natural red clay against a glossy black background, allowing intricate details to shine through. Makron, active during the cusp of the Archaic and Classical eras, specialized in lively scenes of mythology, daily life, and symposia—elite Greek dr...
About the Artist
Makron
Makron stands as one of the most prolific masters of Attic red-figure vase painting, active in Athens around 490–480 BC during the late Archaic to early Classical transition.) Little is known of his early life or formal training, as such details remain undocumented for many ancient potters and painters of this era. Exclusively employing the red-figure technique—which allowed for intricate detailin...