ticketsMember | Make a donation

Terracotta pyxis (box)

Attributed to the Penthesilea Painter
ca. 465–460 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 157
The Judgement of Paris

During the middle of the fifth century B.C., the white-ground technique was commonly used for lekythoi, oil flasks placed on graves, and for fine vases of other shapes. As classical painters sought to achieve ever more complex effects with the limited possibilities of red-figure, the white background gave new prominence to the glaze lines and polychromy. The decoration of this pyxis reflects the delight with which an accomplished artist like the Penthesilea Painter depicted a traditional subject.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta pyxis (box)
  • Artist: Attributed to the Penthesilea Painter
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: ca. 465–460 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; white-ground
  • Dimensions: H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
    H. with cover 6 3/4 in. (17.2 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1907
  • Object Number: 07.286.36a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask), Eretria Painter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Eretria Painter
ca. 420 BCE
Marble pyxis (box), Marble, Greek
Marble pyxis (box)
Greek
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Fragment of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup), Douris, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Fragment of a terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Douris
ca. 490 BCE
Terracotta stemless kylix (drinking cup), Penthesilea Painter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta stemless kylix (drinking cup)
Penthesilea Painter
ca. 460 BCE
Terracotta bobbin, Penthesilea Painter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta bobbin
Penthesilea Painter
ca. 460–450 BCE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 10

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.