White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Atalanta and Erotes

500–490 BCE

attributed to Douris

(Greek, Attic, active c. 500–470 BCE)
Overall: 31.8 cm (12 1/2 in.)
Location: 102B Greek
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

Eros, god of love, appears three times on this vase.

Description

Known as "white-ground" because of the white clay slip applied as a surface for figural decoration, vases of this type give some idea of the appearance of lost ancient large-scale wall paintings. Both remarkably well preserved and masterfully composed, the images cover the entire circumference of the vase. At the center, Atalanta, the virgin huntress renowned for both her speed and her opposition to marriage, races to the right while looking back at Eros, the winged god of love; both figures are named. This Eros, bounding forward, tries to crown her, while two additional Erotes (also named) further hem her in. Love will win.
White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Atalanta and Erotes

White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Atalanta and Erotes

500–490 BCE

Douris

(Greek, Attic, active c. 500–470 BCE)
Greek, Attic

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The Atalanta Lekythos

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