Gift of Esther D. Anderson, Edith and Harvey Bundy, Suzanne Dworsky, Leon Levy, Josephine L. Murray, Maurice Tempelsman, Emily T. and Cornelius C. Vermeule, Shelby White, Florence and Leonard Wolsky; and John H. and Ernestine A. Payne Fund. Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Flanked by maenads and satyrs, a drunken Dionysus—his robe falling from his shoulders—is depicted on this Greek vase (or kalyx krater) decorated by the Darius Painter, who flourished in Apulia, southeastern Italy, in the late fourth century B.C. (see John Herrmann, “The Master from Apulia”). Dionysus holds a libation vessel similar to one shown in Bought on the Market.

The Boston MFA owns three vessels by the Darius Painter: an amphora (see photos of amphora in Bought on the Market) and two kraters. This 2-foot-high krater was used for mixing wine and water—thus the image of Dionysus, god of wine. (A photo of the other side of the vase appears in The Master from Apulia) According to the Boston Globe article, the MFA’s acquisition of all the Darius vases was probably illegal.