Berlin Painter

The Berlin Painter (active c. 490-460s BC) is the conventional name given to an Attic Greek vase-painter who is widely regarded as among the most talented vase painters of the early 5th century BC. There are no painter signatures on any of the Berlin Painter's attributed works. From the surviving vases, it is safe to assume that he was a major painter, there are over 400 vases and fragments attributed to him.

The Berlin Painter along with his apparent rival the Kleophrades Painter was educated by a member of the Pioneer Group, who introduced red-figure painting. The Berlin Painter began working in the Late Archaic style and helped develop the Classic style of Attic red-figure pottery. Over a long career he trained many younger vase-painters, including, probably, the Achilles Painter.

The majority of his works have been found across Italy. This may suggest that they were created for export to the Italian market. Many of his valued works were preserved as élite grave goods in the necropoleis of Magna Graecia and Etruria, notably at Vulci, Nola and Locri.

Text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2024