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Syriskos Painter - Psykter with Athlete and Servant Boy and Youth and a Dog - Walters 4877 - Side A
Summary
This red-figure psykter depicts an athlete and a servant boy on the front. On the left remains the left hand and lower arm of a servant holding a bag (possibly leather) by a strap. On the right a bearded male athlete in profile to the left hunches over infibulating himself; his attention is focused on the bag held by the boy.
On the back are a youth and a boy (possibly courting) a dog. On the left a mantled youth with fillet leans forward on a staff. He holds both arms out and far apart, gesturing to the boy on the right. A dog (Laconian hound) sits on the ground to the right before the youth. The boy, who wears a mantle and fillet, stands attentively in profile to the left.
The scene on the front is unusual. The bag held by the youth is probably of leather and may be either a small punching bag ("korukos") or simply a vessel for liquid. Leather bags were used for holding oil.
The scene on the back is similar to others by the Syriskos Painter. The pose of the youth's hand is that often used by men about to or in the process of fondling their lover's genitals. This suggests a possible identification as a courting scene.
The psykter comes from the Tomb of the Leopards in Tarquinia which was excavated by the Marzi brothers in 1875.
Red-figure pottery is a type of Ancient Greek pottery that was popular from the late 6th century BC to the early 4th century BC. It was created by painting figures in red on a black background, as opposed to the earlier black-figure pottery, where figures were painted in black on a red background. The red-figure technique allowed for greater detail and realism in the depiction of human figures and scenes. It also allowed for more intricate designs and patterns to be added to the pottery. Red-figure pottery was used for a variety of purposes, including everyday household items such as cups and bowls, as well as more elaborate pieces such as vases and amphorae. Many of these pieces were decorated with scenes from mythology, history and everyday life. Some of the most famous examples of red-figure pottery come from the workshops of Athens, where artists such as Euphronios, Douris and the Kleophrades Painter produced some of the most intricate and beautiful pieces of their time. Today, red figurine pottery is highly prized by collectors and art lovers alike, and is considered one of the most important artistic achievements of ancient Greece.
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