Attic White Ground Lekythos

The lekythos shown on the title page was found in the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. It is titled “Attic White Ground Lekythos” ca. 460 BC and was painted by the “Achilles Painter.” Its dimensions are H. 0.385 m., D. 0.12 m. It was possibly found in Athens, and is from the Attica region and is labeled as early classical. The image shown on the lekythos is of two women, one a maid and one a mistress. The mistress is seated on the right side, in a chair, weaving a wreath. Her head is shown in profile, bent looking at the object in her hands. She is wearing a chiton, a type of sleeveless dress with a rounded neck, and on top of this the customary, heavier himation. Painted in white are her skin and the himation. The white is very cracked however it is still very visible. Her hair was painted in a dark brown. Some scholars have argued that she is also wearing a wreath, like the one she is weaving, on her head. Her figure is outlined in thin black paint, which is not completely visible on her entire body. She is seated in a chair that is painted dark brown. The other woman on the lekythos is standing on the left side facing her mistress. The maid’s body is forward, with her head facing to her right, bent downward. This woman has short curly hair that is painted brown. Her skin is also painted white, yet cracked from the years. She is also wearing a chiton, yet because she is standing the viewer can see that it falls to just below her knees. Her right arm is relaxed at her side. Her left arm is holding a flat round basket that is decorated with a floral pattern in black paint. Black and white ribbons hang from this basket and are possibly for use in weaving the wreath. Above the seated woman hangs a mirror. There are other objects hanging sporadically through the lekythos; however its placement in a case made it difficult so view these. Through outside research, a pouch and a lekythos are other hanging objects painted on

Cited: "Greek Gallery @ UPM of Archaeology and Anthropology." Greece "the Mediterranean World" 17 Nov. 2007 <http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/galleries/greekworld.html>. Oakley, John H. "The Achilles Painter: White-Ground Vases." Perseus. Tufts University. 17 Nov. 2007 <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Secondary/Painter_Essays/Achilles_7.html>. "Perseus Vase Catalog." Tufts University. 12 Dec. 2007 <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0043&query=Philadelphia%20MS5463>. Whitcombe, Christopher L.C.E., comp. "What is Art? What is an Artist? Lekythos." Sweet Briar College. 1997. Sweet Briar College. 5 Dec. 2007 <http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/decpotlekythos.html>.