Amasis Painter

“Dionysus and the Maenads,” amphora by the Amasis Painter, c. 530 bc; in the Cabinet des Médailles, Paris

Amasis Painter (flourished c. 560–515 bc) was an ancient Greek vase painter who, with Exekias, was among the most accomplished of Archaic vase painters. He was responsible for the decoration of several of the black-figure amphorae (two-handled jars), cenochoae (wine pitchers), and lekythoi (oil flasks) of the Amasis Potter.

black-figure pottery
black-figure potteryDionysus and satyrs, amphora painted in the black-figure style by the Amasis Painter, c. 540 bce; in the Antikenmuseum, Basel, Switzerland.

Paintings by the Amasis Painter have been recognized on eight vessels signed by the potter Amasis, but more than 130 painted vases have been attributed to him. Among those thought to have been decorated by him are a Dionysus and the Maenads now in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris; an “Apollo and Heracles” in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; and a wedding procession in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. He preferred small figures and full compositions but never produced confusing or ill-organized scenes.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Citation Information
Article Title: Amasis Painter
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 12 February 2024
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Amasis-Painter
Access Date: November 23, 2024