Attributed to the Varrese Painter
Greek; Apulia, Italy
Loutrophoros (Container for Bath Water)
INV-1020
Attributed to the Varrese Painter
Greek; Apulia, Italy350-340 BCE
Loutrophoros (Container for Bath Water)
Attributed to the Varrese Painter Greek; Apulia, Italy →late classicalClassicalapuliansouth italianvesselearthenware
Date
350-340 BCE
Medium
terracotta, red-figure
Dimensions
88 × 37.5 × 26 cm (34 3/4 × 14 3/4 × 10 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund
The towering form and ornate handles of this vase are unique to workshops in Southern Italy. The abundance of delicate white and yellow accents, which were added after the firing of the main scenes, is also characteristic of this region. Vessels like this were designed to hold water for ritual bathing before marriage, but they could also be placed at the tombs of young women who did not live to a marriageable age.
This example likely served such a purpose, as it depicts a woman within a naiskos, a temple-like structure that would mark the gravesite of a wealthy family. On its body, the bride (the central figure seated on a folding stool) is surrounded by female friends and family members. The objects they hold, such as hand mirrors, jewelry, and
perfume flasks, represent the ritual of beautifying and preparing the bride for her wedding day—a practice still
carried out today.
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