Priam Painter

The Priam Painter was a vase painter in the black-figure technique, active in Athens during the late 6th century BC.

He is considered one of the more skilled, and more productive, painters of his time. Some scholars have such a high opinion of him that they draw a connection with the Antimenes Painter of the Leagros Group. His range of subjects is rather limited, but his execution is highly detailed, imaginative and indicates great compositional skill. His most frequent motifs are chariot races in the presence of Athena and Herakles, as well as scenes set at public fountains, and scenes of bathing nymphs. These choices have been interpreted as indicating support of the Peisistratid dynasty – as that ruling family identified especially with Athena and had constructed a number of fountain houses in the city. According to that interpretation, the vases must have been produced shortly before the Peisistratids were driven from Athens in 510 BC.

Stylistically, the Priam Painter is close to the Rycroft Painter.