Lidded Amphora with Chariot Race

ArtistPotted and probably painted by Exekias (Greek)

Place of OriginMade in Athens, Greece; reportedly found in Vulci, Italy

Dateabout 550-530 BCE

DimensionsAmphora and Lid: H: 18 1/8 in. (46.2 cm); W (with handles): 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm).
Amphora: Diam. body 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm): DIam. base 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm).
Lid: Diam. 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm).

MediumWheel-thrown, slip-decorated earthenware.

ClassificationCeramics

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1980.1022A-B

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionBlack-figure amphora with lid; features two nearly identical scenes of four-horse chariots (quadrigae) in full gallop. Scenes include drivers and warriors in full armor. The amphora bears the signature ΕΧΣΕΚΙΑΣ ΕΠΟΙΕΣΕ ("Exekias made me").

Label TextExekias was the most famous of Greek black-figure vase painters and potters. His name is signed as the potter of this amphora (“Exekias made me”) at the upper left. Because chariots were no longer used in warfare, these are probably racing chariots. Each side of the vase shows one of the competitors in a quadriga (four-horse chariot). On the front, the helmeted warrior is identified by the inscription “Stesias is handsome.” Two of his horses, Kalliphora (“beautiful mane and tail”) and Pyrichos (“fiery, red-brown”) are also named, suggesting they had achieved their own fame. The competing driver is Anchipos. From the more lavish identification of driver and horses, we can guess that handsome Stesias is the winner.Published References"La chroniqu des arts," Gazette des Beaux-Arts, vol. 97, no. 1346, Mar. 1981, p. 70.

"Acquisitions," Antiques World, vol. 4, no. 2, Dec. 1981, p. 94, repr.

Andrews, Peter, "A View of Toledo," Connoisseur, vol. 212, no. 849, Nov. 1982, p. 110, repr. p. 107.

Bell, Evelyn E., "An Exedian puzzle in Portland: further light on the relationship between Exekias and Group E," in Ancient Greek art and iconography, Madison, 1983, 1983, pp. 83-86, repr. 5.2 a-d, pp. 82-83.

Moon, Warren G., "Some new and little-known vases by the Rycroft and Priam Painters," in Greek Vases in the J. Paul Getty Museum, vol. 2, Malibu, 1985, p. 55.

Horowitz, Frederick A., More than you see: a guide to art, New York, 1985, repr. p. 62.

Kaylon, Melik, "I'd first save," Connoisseur, vol. 218, no. 912, Jan. 1988, p. 78.

Boulter, Cedric G., and Kurt T. Luckner, Corpus vasorum antiquorum: Toledo Museum of Art, U.S.A. Fasc. 20, Mainz, 1984, pp. 10, 11, pl. 81, 82, 83.

Turley, Robert, Humanities: the Western creative heritage, a student handbook, Dubuque, 1991, repr. title page and cover.

The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo treasures, Toledo, 1995, p. 38, repr. 2 sides, (col.).

Reich, Paula, Toledo Museum of Art: map and guide, London, Scala, 2005, p. 8, repr. (col.) and det. (col.) and title page.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 70, repr. (col.).

Reich, Paula, Toledo Museum of Art: Map and Guide, London, Scala, 2009, p. 8, repr. (col.) Mannack, Thomas, “The Good, the Bad, and the Misleading: A Network of Names on (Mainly) Athenian Vases,” in Greek Art in Motion: Studies in Honour of Sir John Boardman on the Occasion of His 90th Birthday, Oxford, Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, 2019, p. 34, n.90.

Exhibition HistoryToledo, The Toledo Museum of Art, The Museum Collects: Treasures by Sculptors and Craftsmen, December 7, 1980-January 25, 1981, pp. 8-9, repr.Comparative ReferencesSee also Pottier, Edmond, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Paris, 1922-1933, France, fasc. 4, Louvre, fasc. 3, pls. 19, 20, p. 13 (on Louvre F53).

See also Beazley, John D., The Development of Attic Black-figure, Berkeley, 1941, pp. 63-72, (on Exekias) and pp. 63-64 (on Louvre amphora F53).

See also Beazley, John D., Atiic Black-figure Vase-painters, Oxford, 1956, pp. 133-138 (Group E and Exekias; cf. specifically no. 49).

See also Boardman, John, Athenian Black Figure Vases, New York, 1974, pp. 56-58 (on Exekias).

See also Moore, Mary B., "Horses by Exekias," American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 72, 1968, pp. 357-368, pls. 119-122.