Terracotta Hydria (Water Jug), c. 320 BCE
Attributed to the White Sakkos Painterexpand_more
Terracotta; red-figureexpand_more
Gift of Chloe Ackman Family and Friends in honor of Lauress Ackmanexpand_more 2000.71
Not on Viewexpand_more
Apulia, a prosperous Greek colony on the Adriatic coast of Italy, was a major center of terracotta vase production. Apulian vases are distinctive for their large size; some are over a meter tall. Such large vases may have been created for inclusion in the spacious tombs that came into vogue among wealthy families in the 4th century b.c. The size of these vases allowed painters to indulge in complex figural compositions that appear to float on black backgrounds, which are divided into registers by bands of intricate floral patterns.
The scenes portrayed on this vase are common in works by the White Sakkos Painter. In the upper register, a woman is groomed by female attendants. Below, two women flank a stele, or grave monument. On the front center shoulder is a face of a woman wearing a white sakkos (bonnet), a signature feature found almost exclusively on vases by this painter.
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Details
- Title
- Terracotta Hydria (Water Jug)
- Artist Life
- Greek (Apulia), active Italy, 320 BCE–310 BCE
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2000.71
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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