There’s a lot to commend this red-figure cup in Basel. It has all the high points of the early fifth century: finely variegated Athenian clay potted to perfection and fired into that signature orange and glossy black glaze. And the draughtsmanship is top notch.
But in passing glance, the subject is not terribly exciting: flute girl in fancy dress serenading an increasingly tipsy and deshabille louche youth at the symposium.
The fun bits are really in the details and the real genius of the painter is his use of space and the way he has the sprawling youth impinging on his companion’s personal space with that disgraceful dingle-dangling onto her knee and the oddly dexterous caress of his foot. Fun to peer at him in person last week, where the vase rooms are so relaxed one can take one’s time fully, nose against the glass…
