Exekias
Exekias was the supreme master of Attic black-figure vase painting and potting ca. 545–530 BCE. Celebrated for monumental silhouettes, incisive incision, and distilled drama, he set the standard for heroic narrative on ceramics. The Vatican’s Greek Vase Room preserves signed works attributed to Exekias, linking the collection to the apex of Archaic artistry.
Artworks by Exekias
in the Vatican Museums
#63
Attic Black-Figure Amphora (signed by Exekias)
A masterpiece of the black-figure technique by Exekias, Athens’ finest vase artist. Glossy black silhouettes, razor incisions, and touches of added red and white create a poised narrative scene, signed to proclaim authorship and the potter-painter’s virtuoso control.
Benchmark of Attic black-figure at its peak by Exekias.
