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Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Attributed to the Methyse Painter
ca. 450 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 157
Obverse and reverse, Dionysos, the god of wine, with his followers, satyrs and maenads

Belonging to the group around the Villa Giulia Painter, the Methyse Painter takes his name from the lyre-playing maenad in front of Dionysos (methyse means "drunk"). The figures' incipient inebriation is subtly suggested. The key is Dionysos—slow-moving with downcast, introverted expression and stabilized by a young satyr who wraps his arms around the god's middle. The satyrs and maenads on the reverse are more active. One maenad holds her thyrsos (fennel stalk) ready to parry an assault. The figures under each handle are engaged in an eternal pursuit.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
  • Artist: Attributed to the Methyse Painter
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: ca. 450 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
  • Dimensions: H. 19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm)
    diameter 22 1/4 in. (56.5 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1907
  • Object Number: 07.286.85
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

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Terracotta bell-krater (mixing bowl), Painter of New York GR 1000, Terracotta, Greek, South Italian, Campanian
Terracotta bell-krater (mixing bowl)
Painter of New York GR 1000
ca. 350–325 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water), Persephone Painter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Persephone Painter
ca. 440 BCE
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water), Kekrops Painter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Kekrops Painter
ca. 410–400 BCE
Pair of terracotta volute-kraters (vases for mixing wine and water) with stands, Terracotta, Greek, South Italian, Apulian
Pair of terracotta volute-kraters (vases for mixing wine and water) with stands
Greek, South Italian, Apulian
3rd quarter of the 4th century BCE
Pair of terracotta volute-kraters (vases for mixing wine and water) with stands, Terracotta, Greek, South Italian, Apulian
Pair of terracotta volute-kraters (vases for mixing wine and water) with stands
Greek, South Italian, Apulian
3rd quarter of the 4th century BCE

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