Advanced Search 
Fragment of a mixing bowl (volute-krater) depicting the departure of Amphiaraos
Painter: the Darius Painter
Greek, South Italian
Late Classical
about 330 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Italy, Apulia
Medium/Technique
Ceramic, Red Figure
Dimensions
Height x width: 14 x 17 cm (5 1/2 x 6 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Miss Grace Nelson
Accession Number61.113
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsVessels
Catalogue Raisonné
Vase-Painting in Italy (MFA), no. 044.
DescriptionThe Departure of Amphiaraos. A white Ionic column topped by a yellow tripod marks the scene's center. In the upper register, Athena sits to the left with her spear at her side, her upper body missing. Amphiaraos stands below with a spear and shield; his head, shoulders and left arm are preserved; his face is in three-quarters view. He has a cloak fastened around his shoulders and wears a cuirass and a helmet, whose white crest has a red edge. The helmeted head and cloaked upper body of the chariot-driver (Baton?) are visible at right. He wears a chiton, chlamys, and spiky Phrygian helmet.
(Text from Vase-Painting in Italy, entry no. 44)
The Departure of Amphiaraos. A white Ionic column topped by a yellow tripod marks the scene's center. In the upper register, Athena sits to the left with her spear at her side, her upper body is missing. She wears a himation and peplos; her shoes and the butt of her spear are white. Amphiaraos stands below with a spear and shield; his head, shoulders, and left arm are preserved; his face is in three-quarter view. He has a cloak fastened about his shoulders and wears a white cuirass and a yellow helmet, whose white crest has a red edge. There is a wave-pattern around the inner rim of the shield, whose center is red; the shield's fittings, including its arm band, are yellow. The helmeted head and cloaked upper body of the chariot driver (Baton?) are visible at the right. He wears a chiton, chlamys, and a spiky Phrigian helmet, tinted yellow. The hand and twisted staff visible at the extreme left may belong to the pedagogue of the king's sons. The groundlines beneath Athena and the pedagogue are indicated by the double rows of dots.
Trendall and Cambitoglou (RVAp, II, p. 493) note the close connection with two other volute-kraters, the closest being Cleveland 88.41 (RVAp, II, p. 496, no. 18/41, pl. 177; Aellen, Cambitoglou, and Chamay, Peintre de darius, pp 111-114; H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 [1986], pls. 5-6; E.H Turner, BClevMus 76 [1989], pp. 40-41, 49 [fig. 2], 68, no. 2) On the Cleveland krater, Artemis is seated above with a white dog, and the column is absent. Amphiaraos holds out a phiale in his right hand toward a sorrowing youth, perhaps Alkmaion. The pedagogue is replaced by a youth with a ball and a hoop, possibly Amphilochos. In the second version by the painter (Leningrad 1710: RVAp, II, p. 490, no. 18/21; H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 [1986], pl. 7, 2), the pedagogue is in nearly the same position as on the Boston fragment, separated from Amphiaraos only by a Fury, who on the Cleveland krater steadies the horses of the quadriga. For the subject, see H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 (1986), pp. 65-82.
(Text from Vase-Painting in Italy, entry no. 44)
The Departure of Amphiaraos. A white Ionic column topped by a yellow tripod marks the scene's center. In the upper register, Athena sits to the left with her spear at her side, her upper body is missing. She wears a himation and peplos; her shoes and the butt of her spear are white. Amphiaraos stands below with a spear and shield; his head, shoulders, and left arm are preserved; his face is in three-quarter view. He has a cloak fastened about his shoulders and wears a white cuirass and a yellow helmet, whose white crest has a red edge. There is a wave-pattern around the inner rim of the shield, whose center is red; the shield's fittings, including its arm band, are yellow. The helmeted head and cloaked upper body of the chariot driver (Baton?) are visible at the right. He wears a chiton, chlamys, and a spiky Phrigian helmet, tinted yellow. The hand and twisted staff visible at the extreme left may belong to the pedagogue of the king's sons. The groundlines beneath Athena and the pedagogue are indicated by the double rows of dots.
Trendall and Cambitoglou (RVAp, II, p. 493) note the close connection with two other volute-kraters, the closest being Cleveland 88.41 (RVAp, II, p. 496, no. 18/41, pl. 177; Aellen, Cambitoglou, and Chamay, Peintre de darius, pp 111-114; H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 [1986], pls. 5-6; E.H Turner, BClevMus 76 [1989], pp. 40-41, 49 [fig. 2], 68, no. 2) On the Cleveland krater, Artemis is seated above with a white dog, and the column is absent. Amphiaraos holds out a phiale in his right hand toward a sorrowing youth, perhaps Alkmaion. The pedagogue is replaced by a youth with a ball and a hoop, possibly Amphilochos. In the second version by the painter (Leningrad 1710: RVAp, II, p. 490, no. 18/21; H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 [1986], pl. 7, 2), the pedagogue is in nearly the same position as on the Boston fragment, separated from Amphiaraos only by a Fury, who on the Cleveland krater steadies the horses of the quadriga. For the subject, see H. Lohmann, Boreas 9 (1986), pp. 65-82.
ProvenanceBy 1953: Swiss Private Collection; by 1954: Dr. Christoph Clairmont Collection: January 11, 1961: purchased by MFA from Dr. Christoph Clairmont for $ 950.00 (the total price for 61.110-61.113) with funds from the bequest of Miss Grace Nelson (recorded as Bequest of Miss Grace Nelson)