Syriskos

Why this artist matters now

Syriskos was an Athenian vase painter and potter active around 480, 470 BCE, working in the red-figure technique on ceramic forms including stamnoi and other vessels. He is among the rare ancient Greek artists known by name, having signed works both as painter and as potter, with later signatures rendered as the compound name Pistoxenos Syriskos, meaning 'Trustworthy stranger, the little Syrian.' His compositions favor large figure scenes, typically organized in groups of three, enriched with carefully rendered hand-held objects such as mirrors, branches, and flowers, and punctuated by depicted furniture. A stamnos attributed to him on stylistic grounds is held at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Source: Aic · Trust score: 70% · Updated 2mo ago