Terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water)
ca. 340–330 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 36 5/8 in. (93 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, South Italian, Apulian · Late Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.210.3a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking terracotta loutrophoros, standing nearly a meter tall, was crafted around 340–330 BCE in Apulia, a region of South Italy settled by Greeks. Created by the Darius Painter, one of the most accomplished vase painters of the Late Classical period, the vessel served a ceremonial role—carrying water for ritual baths or funerary offerings. Its impressive scale and refined execution reflect the high status such objects held in both domestic and tomb settings. The Darius Painter’s distinctive style is evident in the vase’s elaborate figural decoration, which draws on rich Greek mythology...