Athena Painter

His speciality were white-ground lekythoi painted in the black-figure style.

His pseudonym, for his real name is unknown, refers to his preference for Athena in his choice of subjects.

He was one of the last generation of black figure technique painters.

Some archaeologists identify him with the red-figure Bowdoin Painter.

His workshop was one of the production centres that developed the painting of white-ground lekythoi, which was to become especially important in the 5th century BC.

Heracles and Atlas , on a lekythos by the Athena Painter, c. 490–480 BCE, National Archaeological Museum, Athens .
Warrior with shield and spear in a hail of arrows, white-ground lekythos with black-figure scene, c. 475/550 BCE , Paris : Cabinet des médailles .