Submitted by Sir Joshua, Jan 11, 2008 09:55

It's sad to see an old friend go. I first heard of the Euphronios kaylix krater from Joseph Ternbach, the famed sculpture conservator, when he told me he had received two shoeboxes full of shards from the Met to be put together. Once brilliantly reassembled it was the star of New York. Possibly the most beautifuly painted Greek vase in the Western Hemisphere. it's figures and composition stun the viewer with the same power they spoke to the celibitory Greeks who mixed their festive wine in this 'krater.' With a ratio of seven parts water to one part wine they had a long period of clear focus during which to enjoy the vision of Greek history before them before they secummed to their couches.

The last paragraph of this article is a bit annoying. '...objects reclaimed from American museums.' is a bit much considering these are objects that American museums saved for the world from the hands of Italian tomb robbers, the activity of which the Italian government does little to curb. Payola is still the Italian panacia. The Italians are lucky that these objects were saved by respectfull hands. The name of the upcoming Italian exhibition at the Quirinale should be: Masterpieces of Greek art, found in Italy and saved by American Museums. Then they can bring in Puccini.

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