Meidias Hydria
| Meidias Hydria | |
|---|---|
The Meidias Hydria displayed in the British Museum | |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Size | 52cm high, 47.3cm wide |
| Writing | Ancient Greek |
| Created | 420-400 BC |
| Discovered | c. 1760s southern Italy |
| Present location | British Museum, London |
| Identification | 1772,0320.30 |
The Meidias Hydria is an ancient Greek red-figured hydria (water-jar) designed by the Meidias Painter. Once owned by the British diplomat Sir WIlliam Hamilton, in whose collection it took pride of place, it was sold to the British Museum in 1772. The famous German art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann described it as 'the finest and most beautiful drawing in the world' when he saw this ancient Greek vessel's painted decoration.