AN ATTIC RED-FIGURED KALPIS

AN ATTIC RED-FIGURED KALPIS
attributed to an early mannerist
circa 470-460 b.c.
The shoulder panel showing the "Seven Against Thebes" in the process of arming themselves before the final assault on the city, with a nude figure of Parthenopaios in the center, he alone identified by an inscription in red to his right, clutching a mass of his long hair in his left hand which he prepares to cut off with the short sword held in his right, the scabbard hanging on his left side, a large plumed and crested helmet on the ground in front of him, to the far right a bearded warrior, perhaps Adrastos, climbs into his chariot but looks back at his companions, a spear in his right hand, between them a bearded man is putting his baldric over his head, a mantle draped over his left arm, behind Parthenopaios a pair of bearded warriors, possibly the brothers Polyneikes and Tydeus, one holding a spear in one hand and baldric in the other, a mantle draped over his arms and shoulders, the other similarly clad, holding a cuirass, behind him a standing warrior with a spear, a shield on the ground between them, and at the far left, a youthful warrior, his face turned frontal, his right hand pressed to his cheek, his other hand resting on the right shoulder of his companion, three kalos inscriptions in red in the field; the panel framed by a band of palmettes and lotus buds above, a similar larger band below, with a coarsened pomegranate chain on either side, and vertical lines on the lip, graffiti under the foot
13¾ in. (34.9 cm) high