Red-figure vase painting (also red-figure ceramics, red-figure style)
is one of the most important styles of figurative Greek vase painting. It was developed around 530 BC in Athens and was in use until the end of the 3rd century BC. In the course of a few decades it replaced the previously predominant black-figure vase painting. It got its modern name because of the figurative representations in red colour on a black background, which she contrasts with the older design of the black-figure style with black figures against a red background. Apart from Attica, the most important production areas were sub-Italian-Greek workshops. In addition, the red-figure style was adopted in other areas of Greece. An important production site outside the Greek cultural area was Etruria.
Attic red-figure style vases were exported all over Greece and beyond and dominated the fine ceramics market for a long time. Only a few production sites were able to compete with Athens' innovative strength, quality and production capacity. Of the red-figure vases produced in Athens alone, well over 40,000 copies have been preserved in their entirety or in fragments. More than 20,000 vases and fragments have also been preserved from the second important production site, Lower Italy. Since the studies of John D. Beazley and Arthur D. Trendall, beginning in the first quarter of the 20th century, research into this art form has progressed considerably. Different vases can be assigned to different artists or artist groups. The imagery of the vases is indispensable for studies of cultural history, everyday life, iconography and mythology of Greek antiquity.
This Attic red-figure style Oinochoe, a single-handed jug, was used as a pouring vessel, often for wine. It is dated 480 B.C. and shows a young man playing the kithara, a characteristic string instrument of Greek antiquity. His dog sitting in front of him seems to listen to the sounds devoutly. Hand-painted replica reduction.
A seal on the handle bears the inscription "MUSEUM COPY", on the back "HAND MADE IN GREECE".
