Details

LOT 0088

Greek Red-Figure Column Krater with Bull and Rider

ATTIC, 5TH CENTURY B.C.

17 1/2 in. (5.85 kg, 44.5 cm high).

With a flared and stepped foot, poppy-head border around the lower body and neck, strap handles with palmettes to the upper faces opening to two columnar legs; red-figure scenes to the neck and body: Side A, Europa's abduction: standing bearded figure in profile wearing a loose himation holding the lid of a krater in one hand facing a female figure in draped himation revealing one breast, turning to face the male while mounted on an advancing bull and carrying a frond; Side B, Dionysiac scene: satyr standing nude, playing a lyre beside a standing robed male wearing a laurel wreath in his hair, dancing female in active pose with musical instruments in each hand, turning to face the robed figure; some restoration.

Provenance

German private collection (870632).
Anonymous sale, Hampel Fine Arts auction, Munich, 21 September 2012, no.625.
Private collection, acquired on the German art market.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Jacques Chamay.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13218-249222.

Literature

Cf. for similar krater, Boardman, J., Athenian Red Figure Vases the Classical Period, London, 1959, fig.39.

Footnotes

The two figurative scenes are of equal importance. The Dionysian one depicts the god, in the centre, between a satyr playing a lyre and a dancing maenad. The other scene depicts a well-known subject: the abduction of Europa. This is the daughter of Agenor, king of Tyre in Phoenicia. Of great beauty, she is desired by Zeus. He approaches her in the form of a white bull while she is playing on the beach. Initially frightened, the young woman begins to caress the animal, then becomes more daring and climbs onto its back. Zeus immediately abducts her and rushes out to sea, toward Crete. There, he will be united with Europa, who will bear him three children, including Minos.