Campanian red-figure skyphos attributed to the Atella Painter
Side A: a lovemaking scene, to the left a standing male, his arms around the waist of his paramour, her chiton pushed to either side of her lower torso exposing her derriere, as she leans forwards, her hands grasping a tree (?)
Side B: two female servants both wearing chiton and himation, one holding a phiale in her raised left hand; palmettes and scrolling flower tendrils below each handle, ovolo around the rim with line of dots beneath, foot reserved, with details in added white
Note
Representations of erotic scenes are almost non-existent in Italiote vase painting. Although the quality of this piece is relatively unassuming, the subject matter makes it incredibly significant within the corpus of similar skyphoi.
Period
Mid-4th century B.C.
Dimension
H.
19.9 cm (7 53⁄64 in)
Japanese private collection, priod to 2001
Christie's Antiquities, London, 25 April 2001
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above
For a similar piece see A.D. Trendall, The Red-Figured Vases of Lucania, Campania and Sicily, supplement I, p. 61 no. 895a
