The figural types and compositions on the painter's lekythoi vary little, although the quality of the drawing ranges from good to superb. A typical example from his ripe Middle period (445-435 B.C.) is a lekythos in the Arthur M. Sackler Museum in Cambridge (Harvard 1972.43; Illustration 32).[25] The poses of the figures are very close to those on the Worcester lekythos, with the exception of the plemochoe which the right-hand woman holds up in her left hand (Illustration 33 and Illustration 34).

Illustration 32

Illustration 33

Illustration 34

The mirror hanging in the background is similar to those found earlier (Illustration 35; compare Illustration 36 and Illustration 37).

Illustration 35

Illustration 36

Illustration 37

Golden dilute glaze is used for all the outlines and ornament (Illustration 38 and Illustration 39), and traces of red for the mantles are preserved (Illustration 40) -- in contrast to the black mantle often used in the Early period.

Illustration 38

Illustration 39

During the Middle period scenes at graves make their appearance. They never became as popular as the two figured 'mistress and maid' composition, which now instead of only two women, sometimes have a male and a female, as on a lekythos in London with a woman and a warrior (London D 51; Illustration 41),[26] or two males.

Illustration 40

Illustration 41

One of the finer grave scenes in New York shows a youth to either side of an elaborate tombstone decorated with wreaths and fillets.[27] The tiny eidolon flying over the younger youth on the right suggests that he is the deceased, who is here represented as if living in the flesh, while the other youth is a visitor to his grave. It is never precisely clear whether the deceased is one of the two figures shown in these scenes, and a matter of debate for many years. On some lekythoi there is little doubt that he is shown, on others it is clear that he is not; the majority fall in between.

[26]ARV2, 1000, 201 and 1677; Beazley Addenda 2, 313.

[27]Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1989.281.72; Muscarella 1974, no. 63.

Part 3 of this Section