The artwork is a Terracotta Loutrophoros, a ceremonial vase for water, created around 330 BC by an anonymous artist of Ancient Greek Pottery. This piece, made of terracotta, belongs to the Classical art movement and falls under the genre of mythological painting with a practical use as a utensil. It is decorated in the red-figure technique, which is indicative of a particular series of Greek pottery. Currently, the artwork is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork, standing tall with an elegant structure, exhibits meticulous craftsmanship. It features a slender, elongated neck leading to a wide, broad-shouldered body, adorned with intricate black and red illustrations typical of red-figure pottery. The ornamental details display mythological scenes, perhaps involving gods, goddesses, and attendants, skillfully painted to illustrate a narrative or ceremonial context. Delicate patterns along the vase’s borders accentuate the vivid mythological depictions, highlighting the artistic prowess and aesthetic sensibility of the Classical period in Ancient Greece. The balanced form and the ornate handles further emphasize the ceremonial importance of this exquisite loutrophoros.