( fl c. 420–c. 400 BC). Greek vase painter. About 40 Attic Red-figure vases, all large, have been attributed to the Kadmos Painter, whose work is similar but superior to that of the Pothos Painter; there also seem to have been connections with the MEIDIAS PAINTER. Active in Athens, most of his paintings are on bell kraters, but the finer work occurs on calyx and column kraters, hydriai and pelikai, and on the one volute krater attributed to him (Ruvo di Puglia, Mus. Jatta, 1093), a vase of monumental proportions. His more modestly sized name vase (Berlin, Pergamonmus., 2634) is one of a pair of elegant hydriai. It is finely potted, with immaculate and unusual floral decoration; its figure scene does not show the actual struggle between Kadmos and the serpent, but a static assembly of participants and observers. The Kadmos Painter favoured elaborate, multi-figured and often unusual mythological scenes. The contest between Apollo and Marsyas occurs six times; another frequent subject was Dionysos, who was depicted not only in conventional compositions with satyrs and maenads but also banqueting with Herakles, greeting Apollo at Delphi and approaching the abandoned Ariadne on Naxos. Other rare themes include Theseus’ visit to the seabed and Herakles on the pyre. The scenes quite frequently include a tripod, possibly indicating the influence of dithyrambs. The Kadmos Painter was a competent draughtsman, but his compositions are weak; the multi-figure scenes, with characters set at different levels, are stiffly and rather symmetrically arranged, with little interaction between the figures.

Part of the Vase painters family

• Kadmos Painter
  • Greece, ancient, §V, 6(i)(d): Attic Red-figure pottery: Late 5th century B
  • Vase painters, §II: Pronomos Painter