Euthymides
Encyclopedia
Euthymides was an ancient Athenian
potter
and painter of vase
s, primarily active between 515 and 500 BC. He was a member of the Greek
art movement later to be known as "The Pioneers
" for their exploration of the new decorative style known as red-figure pottery
. Euthymides was the teacher of another Athenian red-figure vase painter, the Kleophrades Painter
.
Euthymides was admired for his portrayal of human movement and studies of perspective
, his painted figures being amongst the first to show foreshortened limbs. He was more minimalist
than others in the movement, and his tendency was to draw relatively few figures, and only rarely overlap them.
His works were normally inscribed "Euthymides painted me". Euthymides was a rival of his fellow Athenian Euphronios
, and one of his amphora
e is additionally marked with the playful taunt "hos oudepote Euphronios", words which have been variously interpreted as "as never Euphronios [could do]", or "this wasn't one of Euphronios".
Only eight vessels signed by Euthymides survive, six signed as painter, and two as potter. His most famous work is probably The Revellers, an amphora depicting three men partying. They are presumably drunk; one of them is holding a kantharos
, a large drinking vessel.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and painter of vase
Vase
The vase is an open container, often used to hold cut flowers. It can be made from a number of materials including ceramics and glass. The vase is often decorated and thus used to extend the beauty of its contents....
s, primarily active between 515 and 500 BC. He was a member of the Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
art movement later to be known as "The Pioneers
Pioneer Group
The Pioneer Group were a number of red-figure vase painters working in Kerameikos or the potters' quarter of Athens around the beginning of the 5th century BCE. Characterized by John Boardman as perhaps the first conscious art movement in the western tradition, the group comprised the painters...
" for their exploration of the new decorative style known as red-figure pottery
Red-figure pottery
Red-figure vase painting is one of the most important styles of figural Greek vase painting. It developed in Athens around 530 BC and remained in use until the late 3rd century BC. It replaced the previously dominant style of Black-figure vase painting within a few decades...
. Euthymides was the teacher of another Athenian red-figure vase painter, the Kleophrades Painter
Kleophrades Painter
The Kleophrades Painter is the name given to the anonymous red-figure Athenian vase painter, who was active from approximately 510 – 470 BCE and whose work, considered amongst the finest of the red figure style, is identified by its stylistic traits....
.
Euthymides was admired for his portrayal of human movement and studies of perspective
Perspective (graphical)
Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface , of an image as it is seen by the eye...
, his painted figures being amongst the first to show foreshortened limbs. He was more minimalist
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
than others in the movement, and his tendency was to draw relatively few figures, and only rarely overlap them.
His works were normally inscribed "Euthymides painted me". Euthymides was a rival of his fellow Athenian Euphronios
Euphronios
Euphronios was an ancient Greek vase painter and potter, active in Athens in the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC. As part of the so-called "Pioneer Group,"...
, and one of his amphora
Amphora
An amphora is a type of vase-shaped, usually ceramic container with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body...
e is additionally marked with the playful taunt "hos oudepote Euphronios", words which have been variously interpreted as "as never Euphronios [could do]", or "this wasn't one of Euphronios".
Only eight vessels signed by Euthymides survive, six signed as painter, and two as potter. His most famous work is probably The Revellers, an amphora depicting three men partying. They are presumably drunk; one of them is holding a kantharos
Kantharos
A kantharos or cantharus is a type of Greek pottery used for drinking. It is characterized by its high swung handles which extend above the lip of the pot.The god Dionysus had a kantharos which was never empty....
, a large drinking vessel.