Siren Painter

Siren painter is the name given to an ancient Greek artist who decorated but did not sign Attic red-figured vases. His real name is unknown, as are the date of his birth and death.

Odysseus and the Sirensr , Siren Painter , BM E440 480/470 BC(eponymous vase)

Odysseus and the Sirens , Siren Painter , BM E440 480/470 BC(eponymous vase), detail

Stamnos, Heracles, Apollo and the Delphic Tripod, Louvre G180

Following usual practice, this artist’s name was derived from the subject of one of his artworks, a red-figured stamnos which illustrates a scene from Homer’s Odyssey (XII, 39): Odysseus is tied to the mast of his ship when he is passing along the island of the Sirens, dangerous bird-women.[1]

The Siren painter was presumably working in Athens in the years 480 to 470 BC.

Some of his preserved vases are on public display:

London, British Museum: Odysseus and the Sirens. ca. 480-470 BC.
Paris, Musée du Louvre: The struggle between Herakles and Apollo for the Delphic tripod, ca. 480 BC.

The struggle between Herakles and Apollo for the Delphic tripod (Louvre)
References

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=399666&partId=1

Further reading

John Beazley, Attic red figured vase painters, 2nd edition (Oxford, 1963)

List of Greek Vase Painters

Greek Vase Painters (Category)

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