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Drinking cup (kylix) depicting an erotic scene of Eros and a youth

Signed by: Douris
Greek
Late Archaic Period
about 490–485 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Greece, Attica, Athens

Medium/Technique Ceramic, Red Figure
Dimensions Height x diameter: 8.9 x 21 cm (3 1/2 x 8 1/4 in.)
Other (Width with handle): 28 cm (11 in.)
Credit Line Catharine Page Perkins Fund
Accession Number95.31
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsVessels

Catalogue Raisonné Caskey-Beazley, Attic Vase Paintings (MFA), no. 127.
DescriptionCup interior tondo composition: A winged beardless male, most likely Eros, lifts a youth off the ground in a tight embrace. Most likely intended as a horizontal composition wherein the youth is lifted off the earth, indicated by the floral ornament. One hand grasps the youth's thigh and the other arm encircles the youth's shoulder. The scene, an erotic embrace (in Greek, symplegma) of Eros and a handsome youth, belongs to a group referred to as courtship scenes found on late Archaic red figure vases.

Another interpretation of this scene is that of a Hyakinthos, a mortal boy of great beauty, and Zephyros, god of the west wind.

The tondo is encircled by a frieze of palmettes.

Below, and partly surrounding the figures, the Greek inscription: "Douris painted it; Chairestratos is handsome" (DORISEGRAPHSEN:XAIRESTRATOSKALOS)

Exterior is undecorated.

Condition: Restored with some restoration not affecting the figures.
Signed "Douris painted it" (DORIS EGRAPHSEN)
Interior
ΔΟΡΙΣΕΓΡΑΦ[Σ]ΕΝ:ΧΑΙΡΕ[ΣΤΡΑΤΟΣΚΑΛΟΣ]
Inscriptions"Douris painted it" (DORIS EGRAPHSEN); "Chairestratos is handsome" (XAIRESTRATOS KALOS)
Interior:
ΔΟRΙSΕΛRΑΦ[S]ΕΝ:ΧΑΙRΕ[SΤRΑΤΟSΚΑLΟS]


ProvenanceBy date unknown: Baxter Collection, Florence; by date unknown: A. van Branteghem Collection; 1892: Hotel Drouot auction of Van Branteghem Collection, Paris, May 30 - June 1, lot 67 (as found at Corneto); by 1894: with E. P. Warren; 1895: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 29,857.37 (this figure is the total price for MFA 95.9-95.174)