Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Pan Painter

ca. 470–460 BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Obverse, Dionysos followed by attendant satyr Reverse, satyr with skyphos (deep drinking cup) A pupil of Myson, the Pan Painter was one of the best artists of his generation. Here he depicts Dionysos, the god of wine, enfolded in an ample cloak and crowned with a large ivy wreath, evidently on his way to a specific destination. The satyr behind him carries a cushioned stool, a kantharos—the drinking vessel most characteristic of Dionysos—and a branch of ivy. On the reverse, a satyr seems to welcome them with a skyphos. The god is subtly juxtaposed with his helpers who, despite their meticulous grooming and obedient service, do not entirely overcome their animal natures.

Artist

Pan Painter

Date

ca. 470–460 BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1916