Magna Graecia, South Italic, Apulia, ca. last 40 years of 4th century BCE. An Apulian red-figured hydria of a grand scale with an impressively painted narrative scene featuring skillfully applied white and beige fugitive paint. The iconographic program features a central naiskos of a wonderful classical temple form with elegant columns, ornately adorned pediment, and a Greek key podium. Most intriguingly, the naiskos contains a blossoming festoon of flowers; this is less typical as many depictions of naiskos feature a figure within, believed to be a portrait representing an honored deceased individual. But perhaps most unusual are the meticulously painted rows of white dots that line every blade and petal of the flowers, even those by the flanking figures' feet. This is quite rare. Outside the naiskos are two figures - on the left, a female with a delicately delineated face and curly hair worn in a chignon, wearing a long chiton and bejeweled with a double stranded beaded necklace and bracelets, all carefully rendered with white fugitive paint. Depicted in quasi-composite profile, she raises her left knee and holds a tambourine in her left hand and a rattle-like musical instrument in her right. On the other side of the naiskos is a standing male figure, nude except for the drapery cascading down the left side of his body. He presents an offering patera in his right hand. On the verso of the vessel is a very large palmette with extended phytomorphic tendrils. Adding to this nature-inspired decorative program, the neck is adorned with a pair symmetrically placed laurel leaves punctuated by a rosette at the center, the rim boasts a narrow band of repeated wave motifs, and at the lower end of the body, a Greek key motif underscores the naiskos, accompanying figures, and palmettes. The painter's skill seems to overshadow the impeccable form of this vessel, but do take a moment to also appreciate the classic form of this piece with its stunning silhouette created by a round foot, ovoid body with broad shoulder tapering into a high flaring neck and spout with overhanging rim, twin upraised horizontal handles and the single vertical handle joining neck to shoulder. Indeed, in every way, this hydria is stupendous, replete with the utmost artistry, strong technique, and iconography that beckons one's imagination. Size: 13.75" W x 18.125" H (34.9 cm x 46 cm)

Provenance: Private New Hampshire collection acquired before 1980

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#118359

Repaired from about 12 pieces with minimal restoration, paint losses and visible break lines. A few small chips to rim.